Journalism at DePaul University

DePaul's journalism program outperforms most competitors on earnings despite charging roughly average debt—an unusual combination in a field where strong outcomes and affordable prices rarely overlap. At $37,388 in first-year earnings, graduates earn more than two-thirds of journalism programs nationally and beat Illinois's state median. More importantly, earnings climb 29% by year four to $48,283, suggesting graduates are landing positions with actual career trajectories rather than the stagnant wages that plague many journalism programs.

The $24,334 debt load sits right at national and state averages, creating a manageable 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio that's resolved within a year of working. This combination places DePaul third among major Illinois journalism programs—behind Northwestern's premium brand but ahead of established state schools like Illinois State and UIUC. For families priced out of Northwestern's $90,000+ sticker price, DePaul delivers competitive outcomes at a fraction of the cost.

The caveat: journalism remains a challenging field economically, and even DePaul's above-average results mean starting salaries below $40,000. But if your child is committed to the profession, DePaul offers better entry points and growth potential than most alternatives, particularly within Illinois where it clearly outperforms the public university options.