Duke University
Mathematics
Completion ROI
$5,634,659
Payback
2.7 years
Worth comparing
BACHELORS | CA | PUBLIC
Journalism at California State University--Northridge
This page puts upside and risk on the same screen so Degreeli can answer the real question: does this degree path still look worth it once completion friction is part of the math?
Degree Value Scorecard
Journalism
California State University--Northridge
Credential: BACHELORSState: CAData confidence: Medium
Editorial Verdict
Good outcome potential, but families should compare similar programs before treating this as the default choice.
Degreeli Value Score
0Score
Caution Zone
Data Confidence: Medium
Directional value
0/100
Estimated Net Cost
$0
Estimated Debt
$0
Early-Career Salary
$0
Mid-Career Salary
$0
Category breakdown
Cost Efficiency
20/20
Cost Efficiency
Debt Risk
20/20
Debt Risk
Earnings Outlook
2.6/20
Earnings Outlook
Payback Timeline
13.9/15
Payback Timeline
Completion / Outcome Confidence
5.1/10
Completion / Outcome Confidence
Graduate Worth-It Reviews
5/10
Graduate Worth-It Reviews
Parent / Student Clarity Signal
2.5/5
Parent / Student Clarity Signal
Cost and debt
Estimated net cost
$28,084
Estimated debt
$14,604
Debt risk
Low
Salary and outcome outlook
Early-career salary
$41,614
Mid-career salary
$68,289
Salary outlook
Mixed
Payback estimate
Payback years
0.0 years
Completion/outcome
Completion risk needs attention
Review signals
Graduate review rating
3.8 / 5
Parent review signal
Parent signal is favorable if aid holds
Student signal
Student fit depends on internships, advising, and career support
Sample scorecard preview
California State University--Northridge
Journalism
Degreeli Value Score
69/ 100
Caution ZoneMedium confidence
Estimated Debt
$42K
Early Salary
$54K
Payback
Moderate
Reviews
4.1 / 5
Good outcome potential, but cost control matters. Compare aid packages and lower-debt alternatives before committing.
Strengths and risks
Top strengths
- Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
- Estimated debt appears manageable relative to salary.
- Projected payback timeline is comparatively short.
Main risks
- Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
Why this score?
Caution Zone is a Degreeli Value Score v1 directional read based on modeled cost ($28,084), estimated debt ($14,604), early-career salary ($41,614), payback, completion, and review signals. The strongest signal is that cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay. The main caution is that graduate review signal is limited or modeled. Data confidence is medium, so this should support comparison rather than act as a guarantee.
The Degreeli Value Score is directional, not a guarantee of salary, employment, or personal financial outcome.
Better-value alternatives
Best current alternative
Mathematics
Duke University
Degreeli Score
89/100
Debt
$22,950
Payback
2.7 years
Better-value alternative
Finance and Financial Management Services
University of Pennsylvania
Degreeli Score
89/100
Debt
$20,400
Payback
2.4 years
Better-value alternative
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
Columbia University
Degreeli Score
89/100
Debt
$15,300
Payback
1.8 years
Methodology and data confidence
Data confidence is medium. Cost, salary, payback, review, and outcome fields should be read as decision support, not financial advice.
MethodologyPrograms
Inspect this path, then stack it against alternatives.
Current school + degree
Journalism at California State University--Northridge
Expand the core read on debt, salary, payback, review context, and score confidence before comparing.
69
Caution Zone
Current school + degree
Journalism at California State University--Northridge
Expand the core read on debt, salary, payback, review context, and score confidence before comparing.
69
Caution Zone
Data Confidence
Medium
Estimated Debt
$14,604
Early Salary
$41,614
Payback
3.5 years
Worth-It Rating
3.8 / 5
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Estimated debt appears manageable relative to salary.
Projected payback timeline is comparatively short.
Risks
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
Good outcome potential, but families should compare similar programs before treating this as the default choice.
Better-value alternatives
Compare nearby paths before deciding.
These are sample comparison options from the current preview catalog, not a claim of full national coverage.
Expand
Better-value alternatives
Compare nearby paths before deciding.
These are sample comparison options from the current preview catalog, not a claim of full national coverage.
University of Pennsylvania
Finance and Financial Management Services
Completion ROI
$5,994,269
Payback
2.4 years
Columbia University
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
Completion ROI
$5,919,991
Payback
1.8 years
Bottom Line
Worth comparing
Journalism looks viable, but not automatic. It still produces positive ROI after completion adjustment, which means the upside survives a more realistic enrollment path.
The main thing to watch is slippage between ideal and risk-adjusted outcomes. Degreeli estimates that completion risk trims about $447,262 off the on-time case here.
$7,021 School Net Price
57% School Graduation Rate
Risk Lens
How much value disappears once completion risk is acknowledged?
Ideal Case
$1,038,936
Risk-Adjusted Case
$591,674
Value At Risk
$447,262
Degreeli uses this gap to show how much value depends on finishing the program and reaching the expected outcome.
Verified reviews
Verified reviews of Journalism
Only approved reviews tied to California State University--Northridge and this specific program appear here. Reviewer identities stay private while verification badges explain how affiliation was checked.
No approved reviews yet.
Degreeli publishes only reviews that pass email verification, affiliation checks, automated screening, and moderator approval. Be the first to submit a verified review for this page.
Career AI Exposure
Higher Exposure (74/100)
This path may face higher entry-level AI friction, especially in routine and digital-first tasks.
AI Exposure is a second lens beside ROI. It should inform comparison, not replace judgment.
Directional estimate from BACHELORS taxonomy and program naming patterns. Replace with occupation-linked datasets as coverage expands.
Exposure Components
Read AI risk as task mix, not destiny.
Entry-Level Friction
79/100
Human Judgment Premium
58/100
Physical-World Durability
28/100
Higher exposure does not mean a path is bad. It means families should compare specialization paths, skill depth, and adaptation speed alongside ROI.
Compare Next
What should a family stack against this path?
Duke University | BACHELORS
Mathematics
Completion-Adjusted ROI
$5,634,659
Years To Recoup
2.7 years
University of Pennsylvania | MASTERS
Finance and Financial Management Services
Completion-Adjusted ROI
$5,994,269
Years To Recoup
2.4 years
Columbia University | GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
Completion-Adjusted ROI
$5,919,991
Years To Recoup
1.8 years
Same Field, Other Schools
The school can change the value story, even inside the same discipline.
American University
Journalism
Completion-adjusted ROI: $879,404
Compare RouteCompare Side By SideAmerican University
Journalism
Completion-adjusted ROI: $897,280
Compare RouteCompare Side By SideAppalachian State University
Journalism
Completion-adjusted ROI: $668,919
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