by our College Data Analytics TeamBusiness and Economic Journalism (CIP 09.0405) is part of the Communication & Journalism field of study, alongside 6 related programs, but no U.S. college reported business and economic journalism graduates to IPEDS in the latest year. Graduates earn a median $36,667 one year after completing, rising to $58,612 after four years.
A degree in Business and Economic Journalism explores A Program Of Study That Prepares Students To Gather, Analyze, And Synthesize Verbal And Visual Information To Communicate Stories Related To Business And Economics Across Multiple Media Platforms. Includes Instruction In Accounting, Business, Business And Economic Reporting, Business Law, Economics, Finance, Financial Accounting And Reporting, Ethics, Journalistic Research Methods And Resources, And Journalism Skills And Techniques.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
O*NET rates Speaking the most important skill for jobs related to business and economic journalism, at 4.1 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are English Language, Education and Training and Communications and Media. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to business and economic journalism, at 70.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 70.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Business and Economic Journalism, with an average median salary of $85,135. Typical job titles include Speech Teacher, Adjunct Communications Faculty Member, Adjunct Instructor and Speech Communication Professor.
The occupation related to business and economic journalism with the most projected jobs is Communications Teachers, Postsecondary, at 919,494.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 919,494 | -1.5% |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | 92,155 | -0.2% |
Business and Economic Journalism graduates earn a median $36,667 one year after completing their program, $58,612 after four years and $57,619 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $36,667 |
| 4 years | $58,612 |
| 5 years | $57,619 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to business and economic journalism, with a median salary of $96,169.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,169 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $74,101 |
Business and Economic Journalism has 6 similar majors in the Communication & Journalism field, which together award 11,474 degrees a year; the largest are Journalism (9,568), Journalism, Other (1,081) and Broadcast Journalism (745). Browse all Communication & Journalism majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Journalism | 9,568 |
| Journalism, Other | 1,081 |
| Broadcast Journalism | 745 |
| Photojournalism | 70 |
| Science/Health/Environmental Journalism | 7 |
| Cultural Journalism | 3 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.