Journalism Degree in Chicago, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Chicago, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$68K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
9.8 yrs
in Chicago
Cost of Living
109
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Chicago, IL Overview
Chicago is one of Illinois's top college towns, with 98 institutions and a student population of 177,322. Public tuition averages $14,816/year here — near the national average for public universities. 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 Chicago is approximately $47,960.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
98
Public Tuition
$14,816/yr
Private Tuition
$62,666/yr
Room & Board
$9,117/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,009/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
63%
Journalism Salary in Chicago (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Chicago's cost of living index of 109 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Chicago adjustment factor: 1.09x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Chicago
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Chicago tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,816 | Private avg: $62,666
Chicago avg aid: $16,009/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,732
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,810
vs HS diploma in Chicago
ROI Payback Period
9.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Chicago
$209,468
Lifetime earnings premium ($305,200) minus total education cost ($95,732)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Chicago
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Chicago for Journalism
University of Chicago
private
$62,940/yr
$251,760 total
Northwestern University
private
$62,391/yr
$249,564 total
University of Illinois at Chicago
public
$14,816/yr
$59,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
City Colleges of Chicago
$3,918/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Chicago
Chicago offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Chicago Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Illinois Cities
Aurora, IL
$41K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$48K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$45K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$40K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$35K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$40K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$46K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$40K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Chicago
Journalism Degree in Chicago — 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 Chicago.