Journalism at Benedictine University

Similar journalism programs in Illinois suggest first-year earnings around $37,000—putting Benedictine roughly in line with DePaul and slightly above Illinois State, though well below Northwestern's $50,000. With estimated debt of about $24,000, the 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio falls within manageable territory for a bachelor's degree, especially compared to many other communications fields where debt loads can overwhelm early-career salaries.

The challenge here is understanding what you're actually getting. Journalism programs vary wildly in their approach—some emphasize traditional reporting skills, others focus on digital media production, and still others lean heavily into PR and corporate communications (which often pay better). Without program-specific outcomes data, you're relying on the broader Illinois journalism market, which includes everything from small-town newspapers to corporate communications hubs in Chicago. Benedictine's 39% Pell grant population suggests a practical, access-oriented student body, but the lack of reported data makes it difficult to assess whether graduates are finding work in actual journalism or pivoting to adjacent fields.

If your child is set on journalism, the estimated numbers don't raise red flags—this looks like a survivable amount of debt for the likely salary. But you'll need to do ground-level research: talk to current students and recent alumni about where they're landing jobs, what the program's industry connections look like in the Chicago media market, and whether the curriculum matches your child's specific career goals in a rapidly changing field.