Journalism graduates from University of Missouri-Columbia earn $77,057 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $20,877.
Journalism at University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, Missouri • Master's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Journalism at University of Missouri-Columbia
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for University of Missouri-Columbia and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Journalism at the master'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 45 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at University of Missouri-Columbia, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $77,057 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 $58,732 across all institutions offering Journalism, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at University of Missouri-Columbia, the mean median-earnings figure is $68,970, 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 University of Missouri-Columbia is $20,877, which translates to roughly $174 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University | $90,356 | — |
| George Washington University | $89,072 | — |
| University of Iowa | $84,165 | $22,010 |
| Kent State University at Kent | $83,464 | $27,036 |
| Boston University | $82,549 | — |
| St Bonaventure University | $82,191 | $27,582 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | $78,880 | $69,000 |
| University of Missouri-Columbia (this school) | $77,057 | $20,877 |
| University of Southern California | $76,630 | $48,232 |
| Hofstra University | $74,266 | — |
Other Programs at University of Missouri-Columbia
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other | $135,569 | $38,346 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $123,999 | $35,202 |
| Veterinary Medicine | $121,804 | $160,825 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $116,219 | $28,485 |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics | $115,303 | — |
| Medicine | $113,111 | $197,576 |
| Computer Engineering | $112,696 | $19,500 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $108,813 | $33,421 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $105,034 | $22,500 |
| Industrial Engineering | $101,380 | $26,512 |
Other Schools with Journalism
Quick picks offering the same program — compare side by side
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.