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Journalism Degree in Evansville, IN — Salary & ROI 2026

Journalism degree analysis for Evansville, IN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$38K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$53K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

10.3 yrs

in Evansville

Cost of Living

86

index (100 = avg)

Journalism in Evansville, IN Overview

Evansville, Indiana (pop. 117,298) has 10 colleges offering Journalism programs. The local cost of living index of 86 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $974/month. 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 Evansville is approximately $37,840.

Category

Communications

Local Colleges

10

Public Tuition

$8,448/yr

Private Tuition

$42,316/yr

Room & Board

$11,425/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$12,482/yr

Unemployment

4.8%

Graduation Rate

57%

Journalism Salary in Evansville (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Evansville's cost of living index of 86 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$37,840($-6,160 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$53,320($-8,680 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$67,080($-10,920 vs national)

Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Evansville adjustment factor: 0.86x based on the local cost of living index.

Journalism ROI Calculator for Evansville

Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Evansville tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $8,448 | Private avg: $42,316

Evansville avg aid: $12,482/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$79,492

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$7,740

vs HS diploma in Evansville

ROI Payback Period

10.3 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Evansville

$161,308

Lifetime earnings premium ($240,800) minus total education cost ($79,492)

Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Evansville

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$79,492
Monthly Payment$903
Total Interest$28,822
% of Monthly Income29%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$79,492
Monthly Payment$1,555
Total Interest$13,829
Interest Savings$14,993

Colleges in Evansville for Journalism

University of Evansville

private

$42,316/yr

$169,264 total

University of Southern Indiana

public

$8,448/yr

$33,792 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Ivy Tech Community College Evansville

$4,540/yr

Top Employers for Journalism in Evansville

Evansville offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:

New York TimesWashington PostReutersCNNAP

Key Evansville Hiring Sectors for Communications

Media companies

PR agencies

Tech companies

Marketing firms

Publishing

Common Journalism Job Titles

ReporterEditorNews ProducerInvestigative Journalist

Journalism Degree in Evansville — 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 Evansville.

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