Journalism at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

The $27,259 starting salary for journalism graduates here trails not just the national median by $7,000, but even Arkansas's state median by nearly $5,000. While this program ranks at the 40th percentile among Arkansas journalism programs—essentially middle of the pack statewide—it falls to the 15th percentile nationally, and the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville pays its journalism graduates over $11,000 more in that critical first year. The debt load of $28,807 is relatively modest compared to national averages, but when your graduate is earning barely more than they owe, that 1.06 debt-to-earnings ratio creates real financial stress.

The small sample size here matters—we're looking at fewer than 30 graduates, so one person's unusual outcome could skew these numbers significantly. The institution serves a predominantly low-income student body (67% receive Pell grants), and for some students, any four-year degree may represent meaningful economic mobility regardless of the immediate salary. But for a family choosing between journalism programs in Arkansas, the data suggests looking at other state options that deliver $5,000-$11,000 higher starting salaries for similar or lower debt. If your child is set on UAPB for other reasons—location, campus culture, specific faculty—journalism might not be the strongest major choice here compared to other programs the university offers.