Journalism Degree in Arlington, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Arlington, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$58K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
12.1 yrs
in Arlington
Cost of Living
93.5
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Arlington, TX Overview
Arlington, Texas (pop. 394,266) has 14 colleges offering Journalism programs. The local cost of living index of 93.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $795/month. Although national enrollment in Journalism has been declining, graduates with skills in Reporting and Investigative Journalism remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Arlington is approximately $41,140.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$10,900/yr
Private Tuition
$36,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,627/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,822/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
51%
Journalism Salary in Arlington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Arlington's cost of living index of 93.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Arlington adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Arlington
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Arlington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,900 | Private avg: $36,000
Arlington avg aid: $14,822/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,108
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,415
vs HS diploma in Arlington
ROI Payback Period
12.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Arlington
$159,692
Lifetime earnings premium ($261,800) minus total education cost ($102,108)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Arlington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Arlington for Journalism
Arlington State University
public
$11,254/yr
$45,016 total
University of Arlington
public
$12,320/yr
$49,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Arlington Community College
$5,331/yr
Texas Technical College - Arlington
$5,252/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Arlington
Arlington offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Arlington Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$51K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$53K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$46K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$47K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$44K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$41K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$36K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$37K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Arlington
Journalism Degree in Arlington — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Journalism ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Arlington.