Journalism Degree in Chattanooga, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Chattanooga, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$35K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$50K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
12.1 yrs
in Chattanooga
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Chattanooga, TN Overview
While Chattanooga has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Journalism students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,210/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 Chattanooga is approximately $35,200.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$9,648/yr
Private Tuition
$39,466/yr
Room & Board
$12,210/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,310/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
50%
Journalism Salary in Chattanooga (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Chattanooga's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Chattanooga adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Chattanooga
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Chattanooga tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,648 | Private avg: $39,466
Chattanooga avg aid: $9,310/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$87,432
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,200
vs HS diploma in Chattanooga
ROI Payback Period
12.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Chattanooga
$136,568
Lifetime earnings premium ($224,000) minus total education cost ($87,432)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Chattanooga
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Chattanooga for Journalism
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
public
$9,648/yr
$38,592 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Chattanooga State Community College
$4,320/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Chattanooga
Chattanooga offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Chattanooga Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Nashville, TN
$40K starting · COL 92
35 colleges
Memphis, TN
$41K starting · COL 93
22 colleges
Knoxville, TN
$37K starting · COL 85
5 colleges
Clarksville, TN
$40K starting · COL 90
9 colleges
Murfreesboro, TN
$40K starting · COL 91
10 colleges
Franklin, TN
$52K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Jackson, TN
$36K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$46K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Chattanooga
Journalism Degree in Chattanooga — 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 Chattanooga.