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Journalism bachelor's degree outcomes at Wayne State University

Detroit, MI · Public · Federal field 0904

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$2,090 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
53.5% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−60% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+93%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$26,591$51,442
Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
19Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
30Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
44Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$12,766

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$29,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$54,188

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$307/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$12,766Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$27,350Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE81.2%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE58.4%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$26,591Year 1
$54,188Year 4
$51,442Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

6.8% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$4,516
Estimated loan payment$307
44borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$54,188 vs. $56,278

$2,090 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$62,760 median wageMI estimate · 960 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$87,670 median wageMI estimate · 630 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$76,910 median wageU.S. estimate · 47,940 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$63,090 median wageMI estimate · 1,690 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFilm and Video Editors$59,100 median wageMI estimate · 360 jobs · 27-4032+3.7% projected U.S. growth · 3.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$46,640 median wageMI estimate · 650 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhotographers$44,660 median wageU.S. estimate · 970 jobs · 27-4021-0.7% projected U.S. growth · 10.7k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentProofreaders and Copy Markers$35,530 median wageMI estimate · 140 jobs · 43-9081-0.9% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University

$5,310 higher earnings · $4,015 less debt

Earnings
$59,498
Debt
$24,985
Annual net price
$19,680
View outcomes →
Rochester Hills, MI

Oakland University

$3,000 less debt · $3,646 lower annual net price

Earnings
$46,680
Debt
$26,000
Annual net price
$9,120
View outcomes →
Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University

$2,000 less debt

Earnings
$47,775
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
$17,597
View outcomes →
Orlando, FL

University of Central Florida

$6,699 higher earnings · $6,356 less debt · $2,355 lower annual net price

Earnings
$60,887
Debt
$22,644
Annual net price
$10,411
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

30 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

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