Journalism Degree in Fort Worth, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Fort Worth, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$63K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
9.3 yrs
in Fort Worth
Cost of Living
101
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Fort Worth, TX Overview
Fort Worth, Texas (pop. 918,915) has 19 colleges offering Journalism programs. The local cost of living index of 101 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,344/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 Fort Worth is approximately $44,440.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
19
Public Tuition
$10,870/yr
Private Tuition
$43,547/yr
Room & Board
$10,247/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,933/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
68%
Journalism Salary in Fort Worth (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fort Worth's cost of living index of 101 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Fort Worth adjustment factor: 1.01x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Fort Worth
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Fort Worth tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,870 | Private avg: $43,547
Fort Worth avg aid: $7,933/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$84,468
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,090
vs HS diploma in Fort Worth
ROI Payback Period
9.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fort Worth
$198,332
Lifetime earnings premium ($282,800) minus total education cost ($84,468)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Fort Worth
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fort Worth for Journalism
Texas Christian University
private
$54,620/yr
$218,480 total
Texas Wesleyan University
private
$32,474/yr
$129,896 total
University of Texas at Arlington
public
$10,870/yr
$43,480 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tarrant County College
$2,220/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Fort Worth
Fort Worth offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fort Worth Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$51K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$53K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$46K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$47K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
El Paso, TX
$41K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$41K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$36K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$37K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Fort Worth
Journalism Degree in Fort Worth — 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 Fort Worth.