Journalism at Flagler College

Flagler College's journalism program leaves graduates earning $27,863 in their first year—nearly $10,000 below Florida's median for journalism graduates and roughly $7,000 under the national average. That's concerning in a state where journalism grads from UF, UCF, and Miami routinely clear $38,000-$41,000. Among Florida's ten journalism programs, Flagler ranks at just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of the state's journalism graduates start with higher salaries.

The debt load of $25,750 isn't catastrophic, sitting slightly above both national and state medians. But paired with those first-year earnings, you're looking at a debt-to-income ratio of 0.92—meaning nearly a full year's salary goes toward student loans. While journalism is rarely a lucrative field, this particular combination creates a tighter financial squeeze than most Florida journalism programs deliver.

For parents, the question is straightforward: why choose a program that ranks in the bottom quarter of Florida journalism schools when in-state options like UF or UCF offer comparable tuition with significantly better salary outcomes? Unless Flagler offers a specific connection or opportunity your child can't find elsewhere, the numbers suggest looking at the state's stronger programs first.