Journalism at Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
39 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
39
Optimistic
39
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,912/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)
ROI 8.8x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #48 of 178 Journalism programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Journalism graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $576K $564K $510K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.0x 8.8x 8.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.3x 3.3x 2.9x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 46% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 39 39 34

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$63,952
Out-of-state: $173,488 (3.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$83,004
-30% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,547
7.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,101
57% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Michigan State University's Journalism graduates start at $36,912/yr — above the $34,417 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.8x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 11% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,547 represents roughly 8 months of the $36,912 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #48 of 178 Journalism programs, Michigan State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $58,101 show a 57% jump from the $36,912 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Michigan State University

A 84% acceptance rate means Michigan State University is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 40,243 in East Lansing, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Michigan State University →

Top Career Paths

Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr
Editors $75,260/yr
Writers and authors $72,270/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Journalism at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Journalism at Michigan State University?
A score of 39/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Journalism. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Journalism careers?
With 64% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $510,143 in decade earnings vs $575,595 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →