Journalism Degree in Bloomington, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Bloomington, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$62K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
12.7 yrs
in Bloomington
Cost of Living
100.2
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Bloomington, MN Overview
While Bloomington has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Journalism students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,533/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Bloomington is approximately $44,088.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,533/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,264/yr
Unemployment
2.3%
Graduation Rate
75%
Journalism Salary in Bloomington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Bloomington's cost of living index of 100.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Bloomington adjustment factor: 1.00x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Bloomington
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Bloomington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Bloomington avg aid: $11,264/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$114,932
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,018
vs HS diploma in Bloomington
ROI Payback Period
12.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Bloomington
$165,628
Lifetime earnings premium ($280,560) minus total education cost ($114,932)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Bloomington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Bloomington for Journalism
Bloomington State University
public
$15,525/yr
$62,100 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bloomington Community College
$5,519/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Bloomington
Bloomington offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Bloomington Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Minnesota Cities
Minneapolis, MN
$43K starting · COL 97
15 colleges
Saint Paul, MN
$45K starting · COL 101.5
11 colleges
St. Paul, MN
$48K starting · COL 108
20 colleges
Rochester, MN
$46K starting · COL 105
8 colleges
Duluth, MN
$44K starting · COL 100
5 colleges
Brooklyn Park, MN
$43K starting · COL 98.8
4 colleges
Plymouth, MN
$47K starting · COL 107.3
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$47K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Bloomington
Journalism Degree in Bloomington — 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 Bloomington.