Journalism Degree in Aurora, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Aurora, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$49K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$69K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
10 yrs
in Aurora
Cost of Living
111
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Aurora, CO Overview
Aurora is one of Colorado's top college towns, with 28 institutions and a student population of 20,916. Public tuition averages $11,380/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Aurora is approximately $48,840.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
28
Public Tuition
$11,380/yr
Private Tuition
$47,322/yr
Room & Board
$13,656/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,981/yr
Unemployment
3.1%
Graduation Rate
63%
Journalism Salary in Aurora (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Aurora's cost of living index of 111 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Aurora adjustment factor: 1.11x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Aurora
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Aurora tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,380 | Private avg: $47,322
Aurora avg aid: $16,981/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$100,144
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,990
vs HS diploma in Aurora
ROI Payback Period
10 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Aurora
$210,656
Lifetime earnings premium ($310,800) minus total education cost ($100,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Aurora
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Aurora for Journalism
University of Colorado Anschutz
public
$11,380/yr
$45,520 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Aurora
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Aurora
Aurora offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Aurora Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$56K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$54K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$55K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$47K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$45K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$46K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$46K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$54K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Aurora
Journalism Degree in Aurora — 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 Aurora.