What can you do with a Journalism degree from Colorado State University?

First, some facts. Of the Journalism graduates from Colorado State University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 13 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 69%, Journalism graduates from Colorado State University have a slightly higher likelihood (+2%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 69%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 7% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Journalism graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Journalism graduate from Colorado State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 76%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2020 from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Arts - BA in Journalism. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Graphic Design Intern
Community Funded
Feb 2020 - May 2020
The Graphic Design Intern position does not directly utilize journalism skills or knowledge, as it focuses primarily on graphic design rather than journalistic practices.

LSC Curfman Gallery Co-Lead
Colorado State University
Jan 2020 - May 2020
As a Co-Lead at the LSC Curfman Gallery, some aspects of the role may involve communication and visual storytelling, which can be related to journalism, but it does not fully utilize core journalism qualifications on a daily basis.

Junior Brand Designer
Parler
Jan 2021 - Jun 2021
The role of Junior Brand Designer at Parler likely requires strong communication skills and an understanding of audience engagement, which are essential components of journalism, making it highly relevant.

Contract Graphic Designer
Parler
Aug 2021 - Dec 2021
As a Contract Graphic Designer at Parler, the position directly applies skills related to visual communication, which connects to the storytelling aspect of journalism, thus making it relevant.

Brand Designer
Parler
Dec 2021 - May 2022
The Brand Designer role at Parler utilizes storytelling and audience analysis skills derived from journalism, aligning well with the responsibilities of the position and making it highly relevant.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Journalism degree from Colorado State University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When looking at jobs held by graduates with a degree in Journalism from Colorado State University, it's clear that many have pursued careers directly related to journalism, particularly in the realm of sports writing and media production. Roles like Sports Writer, Multimedia Journalist, and Program Producer highlight a strong inclination toward traditional journalism paths. These positions require skills that are fundamentally tied to what was learned in their education, such as writing, reporting, and editorial work. Specifically, roles like Editorial Intern and News Anchor demonstrate how graduates are applying their journalism training in the real world, making them quite relevant and aligned with their degree. It shows that for many, journalism is more than just a degree; it's a career they are actively engaging in.

However, there are significant portions of graduates stepping away from traditional journalism roles, exploring paths that utilize their communication skills but are not directly tied to journalism. For instance, many have ventured into IT roles, marketing, or public relations, which, while related in terms of communication, often lack the journalistic focus on reporting and news coverage. Positions like IT Technician or Marketing Manager might involve some transferable skills from their journalism training, but they're generally more about technical or commercial work rather than journalism itself. Overall, while there’s a solid base of graduates carrying on in relevant fields, it’s also clear that a good number are finding diverse opportunities that stray from classic journalism, illustrating the versatile nature of a communications degree.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Journalism graduates (this is across all Journalism graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Colorado State University):

What kind of career trajectories do Journalism graduates from Colorado State University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates from the Journalism program at Colorado State University have showcased a variety of career paths after finishing their degrees. Many of them, particularly in the years immediately following graduation, seem to gravitate toward jobs directly related to journalism and communication. Positions like sports writers, news anchors, and multimedia journalists pop up frequently as first jobs, suggesting a strong foundation in news and media that they’ve built during their time at CSU. However, there's a noticeable trend of graduates eventually shifting into roles outside traditional journalism, often exploring ventures in marketing, IT, or public relations. This might indicate that while some started on journalism tracks, others found different interests or opportunities that led to career pivots.

Looking further down the line, say five to ten years after graduation, it appears that graduates from this program do land some solid positions, even if they don't all remain in journalism. Some have transitioned into marketing manager roles or public affairs specialists, highlighting the versatility of their skills. Yet, there are also several graduates whose paths took them away from journalism-related careers altogether, which might suggest that a degree in journalism can lead to diverse opportunities but might not always keep individuals in the field. Overall, it seems like CSU Journalism graduates have a mix of successful career trajectories, with some staying in journalism while others branch out into various industries.

How hard is a Journalism degree from Colorado State University?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism at Colorado State University is pretty manageable if you're passionate about writing and storytelling. Like any degree, it has its challenges—there are classes that require a good amount of reading, writing, and hustle to meet deadlines, especially if you're working on multimedia projects. But if you love digging for stories, interviewing people, and honing your writing skills, it can be a fun experience rather than a grueling one. It’s definitely not the easiest degree out there, but with some effort and enthusiasm for the subject, most students find they can keep up and even enjoy the process!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Journalism.

Do Journalism graduates from Colorado State University tend to make good money?

Alright, so when you look at these Journalism graduates from Colorado State University, it seems like they’re getting by, but the money situation isn't exactly mind-blowing. Some have landed positions in fields like IT and public relations, which can pay decently, while others are sticking with the classic journalism grind—think sports writing and freelance gigs that usually don’t pay as much, especially starting out. The ones dabbling in marketing and tech roles seem to have better potential to earn more over time, while a lot in the journalism sphere might face a tougher climb financially. Overall, it looks like they’ve picked up solid experience, but the financial payoff varies quite a bit and might not be enough to live large right away.

What buzzwords do Journalism graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Journalism (this is across all Journalism graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Colorado State University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Journalism?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Journalism (ordered by the average relevance score of their Journalism graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Northwestern University 84 22
Ithaca College 77 11
Northeastern University 76 10
University of Maryland College Park 75 11
University of Houston 74 11
The University of Georgia 74 11
The University of Texas at Austin 70 21
Colorado State University 69 13
University of Missouri-Columbia 69 26
Boston University 69 12
University of Florida 68 29
Michigan State University 68 17
Ohio University 68 17
Hofstra University 68 10
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 63 10
San Jose State University 62 12
University of Oregon 62 31
Penn State University 61 16
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 61 10
Indiana University Bloomington 58 26
San Francisco State University 58 16
Temple University 57 26
University of North Texas 56 10
Columbia College Chicago 56 16
West Virginia University 54 10
The University of Kansas 52 16
Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia 51 10
Georgia State University 49 34
University of Arizona 48 15
University of Oklahoma 41 12