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Journalism at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $38,762/yr (13% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)

Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)

ROI 10.2x earnings multiple (3.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #52 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	$520K	$516K	$478K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.2x	10.2x	9.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.7x	3.7x	3.4x
Probability of Field Employment	53%	46%	31%
DegreeOutlook Score	40	39	33

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$50,752

Out-of-state: $139,736 (3.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$98,128

-93% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,750

6.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,441

33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $38,762 at University of South Carolina-Columbia come in 13% above the national median of $34,417 for Journalism programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.2x 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 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,750 represents roughly 7 months of the $38,762 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #52 of 178 Journalism programs, University of South Carolina-Columbia scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $38,762 to $51,441 over five years — a 33% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of South Carolina-Columbia

A 61% admission rate makes University of South Carolina-Columbia accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 28,113 students in Columbia, SC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Carolina-Columbia →

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 South Carolina-Columbia

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Journalism at University of South Carolina-Columbia?

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 $477,728 in decade earnings vs $520,086 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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