Est. Earnings (1yr)
$35,509
Est. from AL median (3 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$25,000
Est. from national median (41 programs)

Analysis

A $25,000 debt load for journalism at University of Mobile lands squarely at the national median for this degree, though it's notably higher than what graduates from other Alabama journalism programs typically carry. Based on comparable programs in the state, first-year earnings around $35,500 would place this program right in line with what similar Alabama schools produce—matching the University of Alabama's outcomes and well ahead of Samford's $30,300. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 suggests manageable repayment, though journalism careers often require several job moves before salaries substantially improve.

The challenge is that these estimates reflect a small graduating class—too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes. This means we're working with educated guesses rather than verified results. The school's 30% Pell grant population and 73% admission rate indicate it serves a broader economic cross-section than Alabama's flagship universities, which could affect both student resources and career network access in a relationship-driven field like journalism.

For parents weighing this investment, the estimated numbers suggest neither a standout bargain nor a financial red flag. But without hard data on where University of Mobile's journalism graduates actually land, you're betting on the program performing like its in-state peers—a reasonable assumption, but one worth testing through direct contact with recent alumni and the career services office.

Where University of Mobile Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all journalism bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Alabama

Journalism bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Alabama (7 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
University of MobileMobile$26,120$35,509*$25,000*
Auburn UniversityAuburn$12,536$38,357*$46,832$20,500*0.53
The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa$11,900$35,509*$49,146$25,000*0.70
Samford UniversityBirmingham$38,144$30,311*$47,836$18,120*0.60
National Median$34,515*$24,250*0.70
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with journalism graduates

Communications Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Editors

Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.

$75,260/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Writers and Authors

Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.

$72,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.

$72,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Film and Video Editors

Edit moving images on film, video, or other media. May work with a producer or director to organize images for final production. May edit or synchronize soundtracks with images.

$70,570/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists

Narrate or write news stories, reviews, or commentary for print, broadcast, or other communications media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, or television. May collect and analyze information through interview, investigation, or observation.

$60,280/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Photographers

Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. May use lighting equipment to enhance a subject's appearance. May use editing software to produce finished images and prints. Includes commercial and industrial photographers, scientific photographers, and photojournalists.

$42,520/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys

Speak or read from scripted materials, such as news reports or commercial messages, on radio, television, or other communications media. May play and queue music, announce artist or title of performance, identify station, or interview guests.

Jobs growth:

Proofreaders and Copy Markers

Read transcript or proof type setup to detect and mark for correction any grammatical, typographical, or compositional errors. Excludes workers whose primary duty is editing copy. Includes proofreaders of braille.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Mobile, approximately 30% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 3 similar programs in AL. Actual outcomes may vary.