Journalism at Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL · Bachelor's Degree · about 15 graduates a year
Northern Illinois University graduates in journalism earn 10% less than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 45% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Northern Illinois 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 |
| … | |||||
| 131 | State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, NY | $50,813 | $48,363 | #157 | — |
| 132 | Southern Connecticut State University New Haven, CT | $50,760 | $45,700 | #176 | $36,153 |
| 133 | Morgan State University Baltimore, MD | $50,700 | $44,495 | #177 | $28,088 |
| 134 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL | $50,658 | $49,771 | #149 | $31,753 |
| 135 | Samford University Birmingham, AL | $50,652 | $57,494 | #68 | $30,311 |
| 136 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT | $50,338 | $47,709 | #164 | $46,652 |
| 137 | SUNY Brockport Brockport, NY | $50,073 | $47,659 | #166 | $33,085 |
Other Majors at Northern Illinois University by Graduate Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Northern Illinois University journalism graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $31,753 one year after graduating and $50,658 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Northern Illinois University rank for journalism?
Among 187 colleges reporting earnings for journalism graduates, Northern Illinois University ranks #134 by median pay four years after graduation, and #149 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is journalism at Northern Illinois University worth it?
Its graduates earn 10% less than the national median for journalism ($56,278), and the median federal debt at graduation is $22,625.
← All data for Northern Illinois 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.