Journalism at Rutgers University-Newark

Rutgers-Newark's journalism program starts graduates at a relatively modest $32,523, but what happens next tells a more interesting story: earnings jump 55% to reach $50,441 by year four—well above the typical journalism trajectory. That kind of growth suggests graduates are either climbing into management roles or successfully pivoting into adjacent communications fields where their skills command higher pay.

The New Jersey context matters here. While this program sits squarely at the state median for starting pay, it outperforms 60% of journalism programs statewide. More tellingly, the $26,000 debt load is below both state and national averages, making the initial earnings dip less painful than it might be elsewhere. Compare this to similar programs: you're getting comparable outcomes to Rutgers-New Brunswick and Rowan at the same debt level, while The College of New Jersey starts higher but may cost more.

For a family watching their budget, this represents manageable risk with clear upside. The 0.80 debt-to-earnings ratio means one year's salary nearly covers the full loan balance, and by year four, that debt becomes a smaller fraction of income. Given that 56% of students here receive Pell grants, this program seems designed to work for families who need affordable access to a degree that can lead somewhere beyond entry-level reporting.