Journalism at Lehigh University

Lehigh's journalism program stands out dramatically in Pennsylvania's media landscape, placing graduates in the 80th percentile statewide for earnings—about $12,000 above the state median of $33,590. More striking is the national picture: at $45,256, first-year earnings land in the 95th percentile among all journalism programs, far exceeding the national median of $34,515. Only Indiana University of Pennsylvania comes close among Pennsylvania schools, and Lehigh beats that by nearly $8,000.

The debt picture reinforces this advantage. At $19,500, graduates carry notably less than both the state median ($26,000) and national median ($24,250), creating a manageable 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio. This means a journalism graduate at Lehigh faces roughly half a year's salary in debt—far better than the field's typical struggle with underpaid entry positions. The combination of Lehigh's selective admissions (29% acceptance rate, 1432 average SAT) and strong regional employer connections appears to translate into material career advantages.

The caveat matters here: with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these numbers could shift significantly year to year. But even accounting for volatility, the gap between Lehigh and most Pennsylvania journalism programs is substantial enough to suggest real differentiation. For families who can afford Lehigh's tuition or receive adequate financial aid, this program delivers journalism outcomes that actually justify the investment—a rarity in the field.