Journalism at Brigham Young University

BYU's journalism program dramatically outperforms national expectations while maintaining remarkably low debt—graduates earn $46,652 in their first year, 35% above the national median for journalism programs and well above Utah State's $41,431. With just $14,953 in median debt (about 40% below the national typical burden for journalism majors), the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32 represents one of the strongest financial positions you'll find in this field. The program ranks in the 95th percentile nationally for both earnings and low debt, making it an exceptional value for students committed to journalism careers.

The notable exception here is the earnings trajectory: graduates see income slip to $43,349 by year four, a 7% decline that's unusual but not necessarily alarming in journalism, where many graduates start in higher-paying corporate communications roles before moving to traditional newsrooms or freelance work by choice. Among Utah's three journalism programs, BYU sits in the middle for earnings but maintains the financial advantage through its significantly lower debt burden.

For families concerned about journalism's reputation as a financially risky major, BYU's combination of strong starting salaries and minimal debt changes the equation considerably. Your child would graduate owing roughly one-third of their first year's salary—a manageable starting point that provides flexibility to pursue passion projects or accept lower-paying positions at meaningful outlets without financial distress.