Journalism Degree in Hampton, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Hampton, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$60K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.7 yrs
in Hampton
Cost of Living
97
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Hampton, VA Overview
Hampton, Virginia (pop. 137,148) has 7 colleges offering Journalism programs. The local cost of living index of 97 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,001/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 Hampton is approximately $42,680.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$7,217/yr
Private Tuition
$29,404/yr
Room & Board
$11,761/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,608/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
52%
Journalism Salary in Hampton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Hampton's cost of living index of 97 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Hampton adjustment factor: 0.97x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Hampton
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Hampton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,217 | Private avg: $29,404
Hampton avg aid: $10,608/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$75,912
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,730
vs HS diploma in Hampton
ROI Payback Period
8.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Hampton
$195,688
Lifetime earnings premium ($271,600) minus total education cost ($75,912)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Hampton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Hampton for Journalism
Hampton University
private
$29,404/yr
$117,616 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Thomas Nelson Community College
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Hampton
Hampton offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Hampton Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$39K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$40K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$63K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$41K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Richmond, VA
$44K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Newport News, VA
$41K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$45K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$39K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Hampton
Journalism Degree in Hampton — 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 Hampton.