Journalism Degree in Austin, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Austin, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$66K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
10 yrs
in Austin
Cost of Living
107
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Austin, TX Overview
Austin is one of Texas's top college towns, with 30 institutions and a student population of 206,177. Public tuition averages $11,448/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 Austin is approximately $47,080.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
30
Public Tuition
$11,448/yr
Private Tuition
$31,126/yr
Room & Board
$12,563/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,991/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
58%
Journalism Salary in Austin (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Austin's cost of living index of 107 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Austin adjustment factor: 1.07x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Austin
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Austin tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,448 | Private avg: $31,126
Austin avg aid: $11,991/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$96,044
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,630
vs HS diploma in Austin
ROI Payback Period
10 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Austin
$203,556
Lifetime earnings premium ($299,600) minus total education cost ($96,044)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Austin
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Austin for Journalism
University of Texas at Austin
public
$11,448/yr
$45,792 total
St. Edward's University
private
$46,872/yr
$187,488 total
Huston-Tillotson University
private
$15,380/yr
$61,520 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Austin Community College
$2,640/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Austin
Austin offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Austin 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
Fort Worth, TX
$44K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$41K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$41K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$36K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$37K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Austin
Journalism Degree in Austin — 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 Austin.