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Journalism at University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,945/yr (19% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)

Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)

ROI 18.9x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #26 of 178 Journalism programs Top 25%

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	$480K	$482K	$454K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.9x	18.9x	17.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.3x	5.4x	5.1x
Probability of Field Employment	53%	46%	31%
DegreeOutlook Score	45	44	38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$25,472

Out-of-state: $89,868 (5.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$42,600

-67% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,810

5.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $40,945/yr, edging above the $34,417 national average for Journalism — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 18.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 64% task exposure — and the 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $18,810 in median debt against $40,945 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #26 out of 178 programs, University of Central Florida's Journalism program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

About University of Central Florida

University of Central Florida admits 40% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, with 59,095 students enrolled in Orlando, FL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Central Florida →

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

How does University of Central Florida's Journalism program score?

This program scores 44/100 — on the lower end for Journalism. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Journalism to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Journalism careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 64% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does University of Central Florida rank so high for Journalism?

The #26 ranking out of 178 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →