Journalism at University of Kansas

Kansas University's journalism graduates substantially outperform their peers, earning $43,191 one year out—$9,000 more than the typical journalism graduate nationally and ranking in the 95th percentile. That's the kind of outcome gap that matters when journalism is often criticized as an economically risky major. Against the standard story of struggling young reporters, these graduates start strong and continue upward, reaching nearly $55,000 by year four.

The debt picture reinforces the value proposition. At $22,811, graduates carry less than six months' starting salary in loans—well below the program's own industry standard and roughly on par with Kansas peers. The 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio means repayment should be manageable even on entry-level journalism salaries. It's worth noting that KU ranks solidly in the middle of Kansas journalism programs for earnings (60th percentile), but when you're already at the national 95th percentile, that's more a reflection of Kansas programs collectively performing well than any weakness here.

The 27% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates gain traction in their careers rather than plateauing quickly. For a parent weighing the practical realities of a journalism degree, KU offers something increasingly rare: strong outcomes with modest debt in a field where many programs leave graduates financially stretched.