Journalism Degree in Jackson, MS — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Jackson, MS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$58K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
10.3 yrs
in Jackson
Cost of Living
93
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Jackson, MS Overview
Jackson, Mississippi (pop. 153,701) has 11 colleges offering Journalism programs. The local cost of living index of 93 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $855/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 Jackson is approximately $40,920.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$8,684/yr
Private Tuition
$27,400/yr
Room & Board
$12,839/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,629/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
62%
Journalism Salary in Jackson (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Jackson's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Jackson adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Jackson
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Jackson tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,684 | Private avg: $27,400
Jackson avg aid: $14,629/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,092
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,370
vs HS diploma in Jackson
ROI Payback Period
10.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Jackson
$174,308
Lifetime earnings premium ($260,400) minus total education cost ($86,092)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Jackson
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Jackson for Journalism
Jackson State University
public
$8,684/yr
$34,736 total
Belhaven University
private
$27,400/yr
$109,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hinds Community College
$3,300/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Jackson
Jackson offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Jackson Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Mississippi Cities
Other Communications Majors in Jackson
Journalism Degree in Jackson — 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 Jackson.