Journalism Degree in Frederick, MD — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Frederick, MD. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$70K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
10.4 yrs
in Frederick
Cost of Living
112.5
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Frederick, MD Overview
While Frederick has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Journalism students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,475/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 Frederick is approximately $49,500.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,800/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,475/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,491/yr
Unemployment
4.2%
Graduation Rate
66%
Journalism Salary in Frederick (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Frederick's cost of living index of 112.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Frederick adjustment factor: 1.13x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Frederick
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Frederick tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,800 | Private avg: $42,000
Frederick avg aid: $13,491/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,100
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$10,125
vs HS diploma in Frederick
ROI Payback Period
10.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Frederick
$209,900
Lifetime earnings premium ($315,000) minus total education cost ($105,100)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Frederick
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Frederick for Journalism
Frederick State University
public
$11,147/yr
$44,588 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Frederick Community College
$6,149/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Frederick
Frederick offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Frederick Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Maryland Cities
Baltimore, MD
$57K starting · COL 130
22 colleges
Columbia, MD
$56K starting · COL 127.2
4 colleges
Silver Spring, MD
$54K starting · COL 122.5
4 colleges
Waldorf, MD
$53K starting · COL 120.7
4 colleges
Ellicott City, MD
$50K starting · COL 114.2
3 colleges
Glen Burnie, MD
$48K starting · COL 108.8
3 colleges
Rockville, MD
$57K starting · COL 128.5
3 colleges
Bethesda, MD
$51K starting · COL 116.7
3 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Frederick
Journalism Degree in Frederick — 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 Frederick.