Journalism at Ohio University-Main Campus

Ohio University's journalism program stands out in a field often criticized for poor earnings, with graduates earning $38,246 in their first year—notably above the $34,515 national median for journalism majors. More importantly, earnings jump 34% to $51,321 by year four, suggesting graduates build momentum in their careers rather than plateau early. At the 75th percentile nationally, this program outperforms three-quarters of journalism schools across the country.

The debt picture is manageable by journalism standards. At $24,208, it sits right at the median for the field, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63—meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in less than eight months of their first year's salary if they devoted all earnings to it. While Ohio University matches the state median for journalism earnings, several dozen other Ohio programs exist, and the main Athens campus holds its own among them.

For parents worried about the classic "starving journalist" narrative, Ohio University's data tells a different story. Graduates start with respectable salaries and see meaningful growth as they establish themselves. The combination of reasonable debt and earnings that actually increase over time makes this one of the more defensible journalism degrees you'll find, particularly for a field where many programs leave graduates struggling with similar debt but lower earning potential.