What can you do with a Journalism degree from The University of Texas at Austin?

First, some facts. Of the Journalism graduates from The University of Texas at Austin 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 21 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 70%, Journalism graduates from The University of Texas at Austin have a slightly higher likelihood (+3%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 70%
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 19% 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 The University of Texas at Austin and our analysis:


Relevance score: 97%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2015 from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Social Media Manager
Feather Magazine
Mar 2015 - Aug 2015
The role of Social Media Manager at Feather Magazine directly utilizes the storytelling and communication skills developed during the Journalism degree, relevant for crafting engaging content.

Intern
Friends & Neighbors
May 2015 - Oct 2015
The internship at Friends & Neighbors likely involved some writing and media skills, but it may not have fully utilized the extensive knowledge acquired from a Journalism program on a daily basis.

Staff Writer
The News Gram
Mar 2016 - Present
As a Staff Writer at The News Gram, the job fundamentally applies the core writing, research, and journalism skills learned during the bachelor's degree, making it highly relevant.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Journalism degree from The University of Texas at Austin?

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


So, when we look at the job outcomes for folks who studied Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin, there's a mixed bag of results. On one hand, you have people landing solid journalism-related jobs, like reporters, producers, and even editors, where they’re directly applying the skills they learned in their degree. For instance, jobs at places like MLB Advanced Media or TMZ show that some graduates have successfully pursued careers where researching, writing, and reporting are central to their work—and that's pretty cool.

However, the story isn’t all rosy. A lot of graduates end up in roles that are more about marketing, communications, and other areas that don’t tie back to journalism directly. Positions in marketing, customer service, or project management are common, and while some of these roles may use communication skills that are similar to those learned in journalism, they often don’t engage with the core principles of reporting or storytelling you’d expect from a journalism background. So, it’s clear that while some graduates are thriving in journalism-related careers, many have veered off into adjacent fields that don’t fully utilize their journalism training. It just shows that a Journalism degree can open a lot of doors—even if not all of them lead back to a newsroom.

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 The University of Texas at Austin):

What kind of career trajectories do Journalism graduates from The University of Texas at Austin have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

If you're looking at graduates from the Journalism program at The University of Texas at Austin, you'll see a pretty mixed bag when it comes to career trajectories. Many students land their first jobs in journalism-related fields, such as internships or entry-level positions in news organizations, while others gravitate towards marketing, communications, and digital media roles. For example, several graduates start out as editorial interns or reporters right after graduation, which is a great way to jump into the field. However, it’s also notable that a significant number of alumni transition into marketing and communications roles after a few years, suggesting that they might not stick with traditional journalism paths.

Fast forward five to ten years, and the landscape becomes even more varied. Some of these graduates manage to climb the ladders in the journalism world, landing prestigious roles at major outlets like ESPN and TMZ or taking on editorial positions in various publications. Others pivot entirely to roles in communications or marketing, finding success in corporate settings or starting their own ventures. However, it's clear that there are also many who have ended up in jobs that, while respectable, are not directly related to journalism or media. So, it really depends on the individual—some find their calling in traditional journalism, while others adapt and thrive in different fields. Overall, like many degrees, a journalism degree can lead you down multiple paths. Just keep an open mind about the numerous opportunities available!

How hard is a Journalism degree from The University of Texas at Austin?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin can definitely be challenging, but it’s also super rewarding if you're passionate about storytelling and media. The coursework is designed to be hands-on, so you’re not just sitting in lectures—you're writing articles, producing videos, and learning about the industry in a real way. It can feel intense at times, especially with tight deadlines and the pressure to create something that stands out, but if you're committed and enjoy the process, it can be a great experience. Overall, I'd say it's about average in terms of difficulty; you’ll definitely need to put in the effort, but if you love what you’re doing, it won’t feel like a drag!

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 The University of Texas at Austin tend to make good money?

Looking at the job paths of these journalism grads from The University of Texas at Austin, it seems like some have managed to snag decent gigs that could lead to making good money, especially those who have climbed up the ladder in marketing and communications roles, or landed positions with bigger organizations like ESPN or TMZ. For example, graduates who ended up as associate producers or senior coordinators might be raking in a solid salary, while others in the freelance or entry-level positions might struggle a bit more, especially in the early years. Overall, it appears that while some are on a promising financial trajectory, others may take a bit longer to hit that sweet spot in their income. So, it really varies—it's a mixed bag!

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 The University of Texas at Austin). 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