Journalism at University of Arizona

University of Arizona's journalism program outperforms most competing schools on starting salary—ranking in the 63rd percentile nationally—and then delivers something rare in this field: meaningful income growth. Graduates earn $36,521 initially but see that climb 30% to $47,608 by year four. That trajectory matters in a profession where many programs show flat or declining earnings. Among Arizona's three journalism programs, this lands in the middle for starting pay, trailing Arizona State's $42,605 but ahead of Northern Arizona's $33,710.

The debt picture looks reasonable at $20,520, which sits slightly below the state median and translates to a manageable 0.56 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's less than seven months of first-year salary—comfortable territory for a humanities degree. The moderate sample size suggests this reflects typical outcomes rather than outliers.

For parents weighing this investment, the key insight is the growth curve. While journalism doesn't command tech-level salaries, University of Arizona graduates aren't stuck at entry-level wages. If your student is committed to the field, this program provides solid training at a public university price point with evidence that careers do advance beyond the first newsroom job.