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First, some facts. Of the Journalism graduates from Columbia College Chicago 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 16 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 56%, Journalism graduates from Columbia College Chicago have a much lower likelihood (-11%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, only 18% 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:
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Relevance score: 100% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.
DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2010 from Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONCopy Chief Columbia Chronicle Sep 2010 - Dec 2010 Copy Editor / Quality Assurance NogginLabs, Inc Feb 2011 - Jun 2011 Editorial Assistant Pet Age Magazine Nov 2011 - Oct 2012 Assistant Editor Revmodo.com Apr 2012 - Oct 2012 Night Editor Lee Enterprises Oct 2012 - Mar 2015 Web/Mobile Producer PennLive.com Mar 2015 - Aug 2016 Life and culture reporter PennLive.com Aug 2016 - Mar 2018 Digital Manager WITF, Inc. May 2018 - Oct 2021 Senior Editor GBH News Oct 2021 - Present ABOUTI am a senior editor for GBH News in Boston. While I was trained as a reporter and have written many stories throughout a decade in journalism, my true passion is working behind the scenes. To put it simply: I enjoy being a team player and amplifying colleagues' great work.My prior work has appeared on WITF, PA Post, The Patriot-News and PennLive.com, The Sentinel, Pet Age Magazine, Seattle Gay News, The Columbia Chronicle and ChicagoTalks.org.In my free time, I enjoy playing board games, gardening, logic puzzles and relaxing with a movie or TV show. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
When looking at the career paths of Columbia College Chicago graduates who studied Journalism, it seems like there’s a pretty mixed bag of outcomes. Many of them started strong in the field with roles like Copy Chief, Editorial Assistant, and various editing positions where they were hands-on with journalistic work. These roles directly leverage the skills honed in their journalism programs, like writing, editing, and critical thinking. For instance, jobs like the Life and Culture Reporter and Digital Manager involve significant content creation and management that aligns closely with what you'd expect from a journalism degree. However, as time goes on, it appears that there’s a noticeable drift from traditional journalism roles into other fields. Many graduates end up in positions that focus on management, marketing, or communication where the direct application of journalism skills isn’t as prominent.
Overall, while a good chunk of graduates start off in jobs that are closely linked to journalism, it looks like many eventually veer into areas that, although they might use some soft skills learned in their degrees, don't require the hard-hitting journalism know-how they studied. It’s a reminder that a journalism degree can indeed open many doors—but where those doors lead can sometimes be quite diverse, and not all paths end up being purely in the world of news and reporting. In short, if you’re looking to go into journalism, you might need to be ready for a variety of job options, some of which may stray away from the conventional journalistic route.
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 Columbia College Chicago):
When looking at the career trajectories of graduates from the Journalism program at Columbia College Chicago, there’s quite a mix of paths. Right after graduating, many seem to land entry-level positions related to writing, editing, and reporting, but a notable number take roles that veer off into fields like administration, marketing, or teaching. For instance, graduates from the 2010s often started their careers in editorial roles, whether as copy editors or social media managers, but there are also professionals who quickly transitioned into sectors like community engagement or even mental health counseling. This somewhat suggests a struggle to stay strictly within journalism-related careers, especially for those who graduated more recently.
Fast forward five to ten years, and we see some of those initial journalism careers evolving into more stable positions within media companies or communications departments. However, there are notable instances where graduates have strayed far from journalism entirely, landing jobs in management or administrative roles unrelated to their degree. It’s clear that while some graduates have been able to build promising careers that align with their journalism education, a significant number have diversified their paths, often leading into other fields or unrelated careers. In short, even though some graduates find success in journalism, others might end up in completely different realms, which raises questions about the connection between their education and their eventual career choices.
Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism at Columbia College Chicago can be challenging, but it really depends on your passion for the subject and your willingness to put in the effort. The program typically combines both theory and hands-on experience, which means you'll be writing, reporting, and maybe even using some tech skills like video editing. It’s definitely not a walk in the park, especially since you might have tight deadlines and the need to stay on top of news trends, but if you love storytelling and are committed to improving your craft, it can be a rewarding experience. Overall, it's a bit tougher than your average degree because of the practical work involved, but if you're engaged and interested, it can also be a lot of fun!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Journalism.
Looking at the job histories of these Columbia College Chicago grads, it seems like most of them have had a pretty steady career path, especially if we factor in the different roles they've held over the years. Some, like the senior editor and the senior programs manager, are definitely climbing the pay ladder, likely earning decent salaries, while others seem to have taken a more winding road, dipping into lower-paying jobs like teaching and freelance work. The folks from 2010 and 2011 have certainly landed solid positions, but a few later graduates are still in more entry-level or part-time gigs, which might not be the best for their bank accounts just yet. Overall, it seems like some are doing well and others are still figuring it out, which is pretty normal for recent grads!
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 Columbia College Chicago). This may or may not be useful:
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:
