Journalism Degree in Garland, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Garland, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$39K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$55K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
11.1 yrs
in Garland
Cost of Living
89
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Garland, TX Overview
Garland is one of Texas's top college towns, with 23 institutions and a student population of 18,986. Public tuition averages $11,277/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 Garland is approximately $39,160.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
23
Public Tuition
$11,277/yr
Private Tuition
$7,560/yr
Room & Board
$10,998/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,785/yr
Unemployment
5.3%
Graduation Rate
55%
Journalism Salary in Garland (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Garland's cost of living index of 89 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Garland adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Garland
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Garland tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,277 | Private avg: $7,560
Garland avg aid: $11,785/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$89,100
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,010
vs HS diploma in Garland
ROI Payback Period
11.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Garland
$160,100
Lifetime earnings premium ($249,200) minus total education cost ($89,100)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Garland
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Garland for Journalism
Amberton University
private
$7,560/yr
$30,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Dallas College Richland Campus
$2,220/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Garland
Garland offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Garland 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
Fort Worth, TX
$44K starting · COL 101
19 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
Other Communications Majors in Garland
Journalism Degree in Garland — 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 Garland.