Journalism Degree in Everett, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Everett, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$73K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
9.8 yrs
in Everett
Cost of Living
118.2
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Everett, WA Overview
While Everett has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Journalism students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $14,169/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 Everett is approximately $52,008.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,169/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,742/yr
Unemployment
3.9%
Graduation Rate
54%
Journalism Salary in Everett (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Everett's cost of living index of 118.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Everett adjustment factor: 1.18x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Everett
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Everett tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Everett avg aid: $8,742/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,876
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$10,638
vs HS diploma in Everett
ROI Payback Period
9.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Everett
$227,084
Lifetime earnings premium ($330,960) minus total education cost ($103,876)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Everett
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Everett for Journalism
Everett State University
public
$11,583/yr
$46,332 total
University of Everett
public
$11,401/yr
$45,604 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Everett Community College
$5,988/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Everett
Everett offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Everett Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$53K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$53K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$50K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$48K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$79K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$51K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Renton, WA
$54K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$54K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Everett
Journalism Degree in Everett — 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 Everett.