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Journalism at University of Nevada-Reno

Reno, NV · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,109/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)

Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)

ROI 14.9x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #34 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	$544K	$537K	$492K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.1x	14.9x	13.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.2x	5.2x	4.7x
Probability of Field Employment	53%	46%	31%
DegreeOutlook Score	43	42	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)

$35,976

Out-of-state: $103,800 (5.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$61,608

-71% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

6.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$53,852

49% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $36,109/yr, roughly in line with the $34,417 national median for Journalism. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 14.9x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,500 debt-to-$36,109 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #34 out of 178 programs, University of Nevada-Reno's Journalism program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $36,109 to $53,852 shows 49% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Nevada-Reno

University of Nevada-Reno accepts 85% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 15,723 students in Reno, NV.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Nevada-Reno →

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

Other Majors at University of Nevada-Reno

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Nevada-Reno's Journalism program score?

This program scores 42/100 — 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 Nevada-Reno rank so high for Journalism?

The #34 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 →