Journalism at Eastern Illinois University

Can a journalism degree justify $24,500 in debt when starting salaries hover around $37,000? Based on comparable programs across Illinois, Eastern Illinois falls right in the middle of the pack—matching the state median for both earnings and debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 means graduates would owe roughly eight months' salary, a manageable number by today's standards but hardly comfortable for a field that's never been known for generous entry-level pay.

The challenge isn't unique to Eastern Illinois. Looking at Illinois journalism programs with reported outcomes, only Northwestern's graduates break meaningfully above $40,000 in their first year, while most cluster in the mid-to-upper $30,000s. Nationally, journalism ranks among the lower-earning bachelor's degrees, with a median of $34,515—so the estimated $37,000 here actually exceeds that benchmark. Still, this is a career that typically requires hustle, freelance work, or geographic flexibility to advance beyond those starting figures.

The practical question: can your child service that debt on $37,000 while building a career in a competitive, sometimes unstable industry? The numbers suggest it's possible but tight. If they're committed to journalism specifically and Eastern Illinois offers strong newsroom connections or specializations that matter, the financial picture isn't alarming. But this isn't a degree that buys financial breathing room early on.