Journalism at Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University's journalism program sits in the bottom half of Arizona's already-small journalism market, with graduates earning $33,710 in their first year—nearly $3,000 below the state median and $9,000 behind Arizona State. Among the state's three journalism programs, this ranks 40th percentile, meaning most in-state alternatives offer better earnings prospects. The 12% earnings growth to $37,816 by year four helps narrow the gap but doesn't fully close it.

The upside here is debt: at $18,062, graduates carry significantly less burden than the national journalism median of $24,250, translating to a manageable 0.54 debt-to-earnings ratio. With NAU's 91% admission rate and accessibility to Pell-eligible students, this program delivers journalism training without crushing debt loads. Still, starting salaries barely exceed $30,000 in a field where the national median isn't much higher.

For families committed to journalism, this program won't derail finances, but Arizona State's graduates earn 26% more out of the gate for similar debt levels. If your student can get into ASU's program, the extra $9,000 annually makes a material difference in those early career years when every dollar counts toward rent and loan payments.