Journalism, Other.
Data details: Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity, and summary are for this specific degree (6-digit CIP) from IPEDS. Salary, debt, and related financial outcomes are based on the degree category (4-digit CIP) from the College Scorecard API. ← Back to search
All data shown below (except Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity) is based on the category, not just this specific degree.
Please use your own discretion when interpreting these results. For certain degrees, a limited number of institutions report to the government's College Scorecard API, which may cause the data to be skewed or less representative of national trends. Consider these figures as informative but not definitive, and consult additional sources or advisors for important decisions.
Debt to Income Ratio
Debt-to-income analysis for Journalism, Other.: The DTI for this program is 70.9%, which is within the generally accepted range for higher education. While not as low as some top-performing degrees, this ratio suggests that most graduates can manage their student loan payments, especially if they secure employment in related fields. If you are considering Journalism, Other., compare your expected starting salary (currently $32859) to the average debt ($23282) to ensure it fits your financial goals in .
Degrees with a DTI between 0.5 and 0.8 are common, but it's wise to plan your budget and consider loan repayment options.
Important financial note for Journalism, Other.: The debt-to-income ratio for this program is 70.9%, which is above the recommended maximum of 80%. This means that, on average, graduates may need to dedicate a significant portion of their first-year earnings to student loan payments. If you are considering Journalism, Other., be sure to weigh the average starting salary ($32859) against the typical student debt ($23282), and explore scholarships, grants, or alternative funding sources to reduce your financial burden in and beyond.
Key Insights
If you’re thinking about Journalism, Other., you’re looking at a field that’s both challenging and rewarding. Typical starting salaries are around $32859, with grads carrying about $23282 in student loans and a debt-to-income ratio of 0.71—which is manageable for most.
Each year, over 12280 students complete this major, so you’ll have plenty of peers to connect with. Whether you’re motivated by salary, job outlook, or the chance to build something meaningful, Journalism, Other. can help you get there. Make the most of your college years by seeking out hands-on experiences and building your network.
Degree Overview
Journalism, Other (CIP 09.0499) is a specialized field for programs that focus on non-traditional or emerging forms of news gathering and reporting. While a standard journalism degree might focus on general assignment reporting for a newspaper or TV station, this "Other" category is often used for niche tracks such as investigative data journalism, environmental reporting, immersive storytelling (VR/AR), or entrepreneurial journalism where reporters also act as media business owners.
This field is ideal for students who want to be more than just "reporters"—it is for those who want to be specialized experts in a specific subject or masters of a specific high-tech storytelling tool. It is a path for individuals who believe in the democratic power of information but want to deliver it in ways that go beyond the traditional 500-word article.
What Is a Journalism (Other) Degree?
A Journalism (Other) degree focuses on the advanced and specialized methods of uncovering and sharing the truth. Because it falls into the "Other" category, these programs are often the "R&D" wing of the media world, experimenting with how artificial intelligence, big data, and interactive media can be used to hold powerful people accountable. It often bridges the gap between the humanities and technical fields like computer science or environmental science.
Schools offer this degree to:
- Train "Subject Matter Experts" (SMEs) who can report deeply on complex topics like medicine, law, or climate change
- Develop Data Journalists who can write code to scrape websites and find patterns in government databases
- Prepare "Media Entrepreneurs" to launch their own newsletters, podcasts, or independent news sites
- Explore the use of "Sensor Journalism"—using physical sensors to track air quality or traffic for news stories
What Will You Learn?
Students learn that modern journalism is a mix of high-level research, technical skill, and the timeless art of the interview.
Core Skills You’ll Build
Most students learn to:
- Use Python or SQL to analyze massive spreadsheets and find the "story in the numbers"
- Conduct "OSINT" (Open Source Intelligence) investigations using satellite imagery and social media footprints
- Produce "Immersive" content, such as 360-degree video or interactive maps
- Master the legalities of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to get secret government records
- Design and launch a sustainable media business model from scratch
- Verify information in an era of "Deepfakes" and coordinated misinformation
Topics You May Explore
Coursework is often highly specific and research-heavy:
- Data Visualization: Learning to create interactive charts and maps that tell a story.
- Investigative Techniques: Advanced methods for tracking money, power, and corruption.
- Science and Health Communication: Learning to translate complex research for the general public.
- Media Law and First Amendment Studies: Understanding the protections and limits of the free press.
- Audience Engagement Strategy: Building a community around your reporting through newsletters and social media.
- Documentary Production: Learning long-form visual storytelling techniques.
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
Graduates often fill specialized roles that traditional journalism students might not have the technical background for.
Common job roles include:
- Data Journalist: Using statistics and code to report on everything from elections to sports.
- Investigative Researcher: Working for news "labs" or non-profits like ProPublica or Bellingcat.
- Product Manager (Media): Designing the apps and websites where people read the news.
- Solutions Journalist: Reporting not just on problems, but on the evidence-based ways people are fixing them.
- Fact-Checker/Verification Specialist: Working to debunk viral rumors and AI-generated hoaxes.
- Science/Tech Reporter: Writing for specialized publications like Wired or Nature.
Where Can You Work?
Opportunities exist far beyond traditional newsrooms:
- Digital News Startups: Working for companies like Axios, Vox, or The 19th.
- Research Institutions: Helping universities or think tanks communicate their findings to the world.
- Non-Profit Newsrooms: Organizations that rely on grants and donations to do deep-dive investigations.
- Tech Platforms: Working in "Trust and Safety" or "News Curation" at companies like Google or Meta.
- Documentary Film Houses: Creating deep-dive visual investigations for streaming platforms.
How Much Can You Earn?
Specialized journalists often earn more than general reporters because their technical or subject-matter skills are rarer.
- Data Journalists: Median annual salary of approximately $70,000–$95,000.
- Technical Writers: Median annual salary of around $78,000–$85,000.
- Media Product Managers: Salaries typically range from $90,000 to $130,000.
- Investigative Editors: In large markets, salaries can exceed $110,000.
Is This Degree Hard?
The difficulty lies in the ethical and emotional weight of the work, combined with technical rigor. You must be comfortable with "not knowing the answer" and be willing to spend months on a single project that might not pan out. You must also be able to handle "information overload" and be brave enough to ask difficult questions to people who do not want to answer them.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
This degree may be a good fit if you:
- Are the person who is always saying, "Wait, is that actually true?"
- Love "rabbit holes"—once you start researching a topic, you can't stop
- Enjoy using tools like spreadsheets or maps to find patterns
- Want a career that has a direct impact on justice and democracy
- Are comfortable with technology and see it as a tool for storytelling
How to Prepare in High School
- Take classes in Statistics, Computer Science, Civics/Government, and English
- Start a specialized blog or newsletter about a topic you love (e.g., local environment, tech, or school sports stats)
- Learn the basics of Excel or Google Sheets—the "gateway drug" to data journalism
- Practice "active listening" and interviewing people for your school's media
- Read investigative reports from different countries to see how they differ
The combination of a skeptical mind, a servant's heart, and a technician's toolkit is the key to success in the "Other" world of journalism.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
Official assessment tool by the U.S. Department of Labor