Journalism at American University
Washington, DC · Bachelor's Degree · about 49 graduates a year
American University graduates in journalism earn 18% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 37% of one year’s pay at that point.
How American University Compares for Journalism
All 187 colleges reporting journalism earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA | $81,935 | $83,329 | #1 | $45,256 |
| 2 | George Washington University Washington, DC | $81,927 | $71,789 | #10 | $52,015 |
| 3 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL | $80,258 | $78,853 | #3 | $50,426 |
| 4 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | $79,776 | $72,591 | #8 | $44,651 |
| 5 | Chapman University Orange, CA | $79,135 | $72,008 | #9 | $41,645 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI | $75,967 | $79,047 | #2 | $40,942 |
| 7 | Northeastern University Boston, MA | $74,709 | $65,789 | #20 | $51,855 |
| 8 | Fordham University Bronx, NY | $72,475 | $68,981 | #13 | $42,769 |
| 9 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FL | $71,466 | $76,066 | #5 | $41,378 |
| 10 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA | $70,829 | $64,450 | #25 | $48,637 |
| … | |||||
| 16 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL | $67,539 | $66,357 | #16 | $36,303 |
| 17 | The College of New Jersey Ewing, NJ | $67,038 | $58,838 | #55 | $42,217 |
| 18 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN | $66,799 | $63,807 | #26 | $42,450 |
| 19 | American University Washington, DC | $66,635 | $58,390 | #61 | $44,387 |
| 20 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR | $66,087 | $77,878 | #4 | $38,354 |
| 21 | Boston University Boston, MA | $65,617 | $57,783 | #64 | $42,857 |
| 22 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY | $65,535 | $62,376 | #39 | — |
Other Journalism Credentials at American University
| Credential | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $49,973 | $67,819 | $55,989 |
Other Majors at American University by Graduate Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do American University journalism graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $44,387 one year after graduating and $66,635 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does American University rank for journalism?
Among 187 colleges reporting earnings for journalism graduates, American University ranks #19 by median pay four years after graduation, and #61 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is journalism at American University worth it?
Its graduates earn 18% more than the national median for journalism ($56,278), and the median federal debt at graduation is $24,976.
← All data for American University · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.