Journalism at Lewis University
IL · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 09.04
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Journalism degree from Lewis University earn a median salary of $50,227 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in IL, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $54,714. The degree typically pays for itself in 12.3 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$39,163
Typical Career
$50,227
Top Performers
$67,570
Estimated break-even: 12.3 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$335
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,186. Most students can comfortably afford about a $335 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Illinois buys what costs $0.92 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Public Administration.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$54,714
Nominal: $50,227 in Illinois (COL 91.8% of national avg) · 8.9% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $24,637 | $32,231 | $43,047 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $39,163 | $50,227 | $67,570 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $43,384 | $61,332 | $80,729 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $50,227 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in IL, which has a cost-of-living index of 91.8% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $50,227 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9180)
= $54,714 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for Lewis University Journalism graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (25.7%), Educational Services (14.2%), and Public Administration (9.3%). This suggests a diverse range of career opportunities, particularly in sectors that value communication and information dissemination. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 12.3 years, indicating that while the initial investment in a journalism degree may take over a decade to recoup, the long-term return on investment could be favorable given the potential for career advancement and salary growth in these industries.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Journalism degree at Lewis University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.