Journalism at Marquette University

Marquette's journalism program commands a premium price but delivers earnings that justify it—at least initially. The $38,700 starting salary places graduates in the 77th percentile nationally for journalism majors, well above the $34,515 national median. Within Wisconsin, Marquette ties for the median, positioning it as a solid middle performer among the state's eight journalism programs, trailing only UW-Madison.

The debt picture is surprisingly manageable for a private university. At $26,000, graduates carry debt equal to just 67% of first-year earnings—a ratio that's better than 75% of journalism programs nationally. That's rare territory for journalism degrees, which often saddle graduates with debt exceeding their annual income. The 32% earnings growth to $51,254 by year four suggests the Marquette brand and network create meaningful career acceleration.

For parents weighing the private school premium, this is one of the safer bets in journalism education. You're paying more upfront (19% Pell grant enrollment suggests limited financial aid compared to public universities), but getting outcomes that outpace three-quarters of journalism programs nationwide. The real question is whether that advantage over UW-Madison's $40,942 starting salary justifies potentially double the total cost of attendance.