Journalism at Central Michigan University

Central Michigan's journalism program produces graduates earning $25,033 in their first year—roughly $10,000 below the state median and nearly $10,000 below the national average for journalism degrees. This places the program in the bottom quarter of Michigan journalism schools and the bottom 5% nationally. Graduates carry $27,000 in debt, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio above 1.0, which means typical borrowers owe more than they'll earn in their entire first year out of school.

The earnings trajectory does improve significantly, climbing 28% to $32,022 by year four, which begins to approach the state median. But that initial earnings gap matters more than it might seem—those first years of lower income make debt repayment harder and delay other financial milestones. For perspective, journalism graduates from Michigan State start at $36,912, while Eastern Michigan hits the state median of $31,845. Even at four years out, CMU graduates are earning what their peers at other Michigan schools make right after graduation.

For families considering this program, the math is straightforward but uncomfortable: your child will likely start below $26,000 annually while owing more than that in student loans. If journalism is the goal, look closely at CMU's specific strengths in the field that might justify this gap—perhaps particular faculty connections, niche specializations, or geographic advantages in your target market. Otherwise, the in-state alternatives offer substantially better starting positions.