Journalism at University of Central Arkansas

The small sample size here is important context, but the available data shows University of Central Arkansas journalism graduates navigating a familiar challenge in this field: modest starting salaries that require patience. At $31,911 in year one, they're earning about $2,000 below both state and national medians, landing near the 40th percentile among Arkansas programs. The positive signal is steady growth—23% earnings gains by year four bring graduates to $39,247, which actually exceeds the national 75th percentile.

The debt picture is more encouraging than the starting salary might suggest. At $26,500, graduates carry relatively manageable debt compared to their peers at other institutions, creating a 0.83 debt-to-earnings ratio. This positions them better than the typical journalism graduate nationally. Within Arkansas, UCA sits between Arkansas Tech and the flagship campus in earnings potential, but the combination of lower debt and solid growth trajectory means the financial equation improves considerably over time.

For a parent concerned about ROI in journalism—admittedly a tough field financially—this program won't deliver high starting salaries, but the debt burden is reasonable enough that graduates have breathing room while they build their careers. If your child is committed to journalism, UCA offers a path that doesn't pile on excessive debt while still providing earnings growth potential.