Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $39,992 at Indiana University-Bloomington come in 16% above the national median of $34,417 for Journalism programs.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Journalism programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Journalism's typical career paths, with 64% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $39,992 far exceeding the $18,762 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #14 of 178 programs, Indiana University-Bloomington's Journalism program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.
Five-year earnings of $65,840 show a 65% jump from the $39,992 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.