Journalism Degree in Denver, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Denver, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$79K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
9.1 yrs
in Denver
Cost of Living
128
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Denver, CO Overview
Denver is one of Colorado's top college towns, with 31 institutions and a student population of 74,098. 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 Denver is approximately $56,320.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
31
Public Tuition
$11,380/yr
Private Tuition
$49,039/yr
Room & Board
$14,960/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,823/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
65%
Journalism Salary in Denver (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Denver's cost of living index of 128 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Denver adjustment factor: 1.28x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Denver
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Denver tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,380 | Private avg: $49,039
Denver avg aid: $8,823/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,360
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$11,520
vs HS diploma in Denver
ROI Payback Period
9.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Denver
$253,040
Lifetime earnings premium ($358,400) minus total education cost ($105,360)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Denver
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Denver for Journalism
University of Colorado Denver
public
$11,380/yr
$45,520 total
University of Denver
private
$56,268/yr
$225,072 total
Regis University
private
$41,810/yr
$167,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Denver
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Denver
Denver offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Denver Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Colorado Cities
Colorado Springs, CO
$54K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$49K starting · COL 111
28 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 Denver
Journalism Degree in Denver — 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 Denver.