Journalism at University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
34 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
35
Optimistic
34
Base Case
29
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,926/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)
ROI 9.4x earnings multiple (3.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #81 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 $497K $496K $464K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.4x 9.4x 8.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.7x 3.7x 3.5x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 46% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 35 34 29

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$52,848
Out-of-state: $133,624 (3.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$68,872
-30% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
8.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,621
29% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Kentucky's Journalism graduates start at $36,926/yr — above the $34,417 national average, though not by a wide margin.

At 9.4x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 64% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,000 debt-to-$36,926 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #81 out of 178 programs, University of Kentucky's Journalism offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $36,926 to $47,621 shows 29% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Kentucky

A 92% acceptance rate means University of Kentucky is accessible to most applicants, with 23,189 students enrolled in Lexington, KY.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Kentucky →

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 Kentucky's Journalism program score?
This program scores 34/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →