Journalism at Illinois State University
Normal, IL · Bachelor's Degree · about 34 graduates a year
Illinois State University graduates in journalism earn 1% less 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 Illinois State 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 |
| … | |||||
| 85 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS | $56,418 | $58,571 | #58 | $37,484 |
| 86 | University of Mississippi University, MS | $56,381 | $68,408 | #14 | $35,389 |
| 87 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ | $55,676 | $57,208 | #71 | $36,521 |
| 88 | Illinois State University Normal, IL | $55,641 | $54,667 | #93 | $36,643 |
| 89 | University of Oregon Eugene, OR | $55,615 | $55,943 | #83 | $33,525 |
| 90 | California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA | $55,192 | $50,221 | #144 | $28,844 |
| 91 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL | $55,043 | $62,479 | #38 | $35,509 |
Other Majors at Illinois State University by Graduate Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Illinois State University journalism graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $36,643 one year after graduating and $55,641 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Illinois State University rank for journalism?
Among 187 colleges reporting earnings for journalism graduates, Illinois State University ranks #88 by median pay four years after graduation, and #93 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is journalism at Illinois State University worth it?
Its graduates earn 1% less than the national median for journalism ($56,278), and the median federal debt at graduation is $20,750.
← All data for Illinois State 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.