Journalism at University of Maryland-College Park

UMD's journalism program outearns 95% of journalism programs nationally—a remarkable achievement in a field where most graduates struggle to break $35,000 in their first year. With starting earnings of $46,893 and four-year earnings climbing to $57,180, these graduates are earning roughly 35% more than typical journalism majors and 25% more than Maryland's state median for the field. That's the difference between scraping by and building a real financial foundation early in your career.

The debt picture is reasonable at $23,250, translating to a manageable 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio that's better than many liberal arts programs. The 22% earnings growth over four years shows solid career progression, likely reflecting the strong connections and credibility that come from UMD's flagship journalism school. Being located in the DMC metro area—close to major media outlets, government communications jobs, and corporate public relations—clearly matters. While journalism isn't a high-earning field compared to STEM majors, this program demonstrates you can launch a viable career in it with the right institutional platform.

If your child is committed to journalism despite the field's economic challenges, this is one of the better bets available. The combination of strong initial placement and continued growth suggests graduates are finding quality positions, not just cobbling together freelance gigs.