Journalism Degree in Athens, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Athens, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$64K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
9.6 yrs
in Athens
Cost of Living
103
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Athens, GA Overview
Athens, Georgia (pop. 127,064) has 11 colleges offering Journalism programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $743/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 Athens is approximately $45,320.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$12,080/yr
Private Tuition
$42,791/yr
Room & Board
$10,251/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,146/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
50%
Journalism Salary in Athens (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Athens's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Athens adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Athens
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Athens tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,080 | Private avg: $42,791
Athens avg aid: $13,146/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$89,324
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,270
vs HS diploma in Athens
ROI Payback Period
9.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Athens
$199,076
Lifetime earnings premium ($288,400) minus total education cost ($89,324)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Athens
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Athens for Journalism
University of Georgia
public
$12,080/yr
$48,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Athens Technical College
$3,152/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Athens
Athens offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Athens Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$44K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Columbus, GA
$37K starting · COL 84.5
8 colleges
Augusta, GA
$37K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Macon, GA
$44K starting · COL 101
13 colleges
Savannah, GA
$42K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$50K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$48K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$50K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Athens
Journalism Degree in Athens — 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 Athens.