Journalism Degree in Green Bay, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Green Bay, WI. 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
9.2 yrs
in Green Bay
Cost of Living
86
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Green Bay, WI Overview
Green Bay, Wisconsin (pop. 107,395) has 6 colleges offering Journalism programs. The local cost of living index of 86 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $822/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 Green Bay is approximately $37,840.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$8,266/yr
Private Tuition
$43,500/yr
Room & Board
$9,447/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,636/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
73%
Journalism Salary in Green Bay (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Green Bay's cost of living index of 86 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Green Bay adjustment factor: 0.86x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Green Bay
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Green Bay tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,266 | Private avg: $43,500
Green Bay avg aid: $16,636/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$70,852
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,740
vs HS diploma in Green Bay
ROI Payback Period
9.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Green Bay
$169,948
Lifetime earnings premium ($240,800) minus total education cost ($70,852)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Green Bay
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Green Bay for Journalism
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
public
$8,266/yr
$33,064 total
St. Norbert College
private
$43,500/yr
$174,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
$4,620/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Green Bay
Green Bay offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Green Bay Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$41K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Madison, WI
$39K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$47K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Racine, WI
$38K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Appleton, WI
$35K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$40K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$38K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$47K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Green Bay
Journalism Degree in Green Bay — 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 Green Bay.