Journalism graduates from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo earn $70,829 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $19,500.
Journalism at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Journalism at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Journalism at the bachelor's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 58 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $70,829 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $50,568 across all institutions offering Journalism, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, the mean median-earnings figure is $84,869, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Journalism graduates at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $19,500, which translates to roughly $163 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Journalism at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Lehigh University | $81,935 | $19,500 |
| George Washington University | $81,927 | $25,000 |
| Northwestern University | $80,258 | $14,834 |
| University of Southern California | $79,776 | $15,000 |
| Chapman University | $79,135 | $22,290 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | $75,967 | $21,500 |
| Northeastern University | $74,709 | $24,005 |
| Fordham University | $72,475 | $26,324 |
| University of Miami | $71,466 | $15,500 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (this school) | $70,829 | $19,500 |
Other Programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $235,241 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $158,977 | — |
| Computer Science | $154,784 | $19,500 |
| Computer Engineering | $148,950 | $20,556 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $134,105 | — |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $132,720 | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $131,448 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | $127,908 | $20,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $125,240 | $23,475 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $120,462 | — |
View all 86 programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo →
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.