Journalism Degree in Jacksonville, FL — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Jacksonville, FL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$73K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.3 yrs
in Jacksonville
Cost of Living
117
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Jacksonville, FL Overview
Jacksonville is one of Florida's top college towns, with 35 institutions and a student population of 36,092. Public tuition averages $6,394/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 Jacksonville is approximately $51,480.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
35
Public Tuition
$6,394/yr
Private Tuition
$26,965/yr
Room & Board
$10,215/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,539/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
71%
Journalism Salary in Jacksonville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Jacksonville's cost of living index of 117 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Jacksonville adjustment factor: 1.17x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Jacksonville
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Jacksonville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,394 | Private avg: $26,965
Jacksonville avg aid: $14,539/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$66,436
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$10,530
vs HS diploma in Jacksonville
ROI Payback Period
6.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Jacksonville
$261,164
Lifetime earnings premium ($327,600) minus total education cost ($66,436)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Jacksonville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Jacksonville for Journalism
University of North Florida
public
$6,394/yr
$25,576 total
Jacksonville University
private
$39,280/yr
$157,120 total
Edward Waters University
private
$14,650/yr
$58,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Florida State College at Jacksonville
$3,100/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Jacksonville
Jacksonville offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Jacksonville Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Florida Cities
Miami, FL
$43K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tampa, FL
$44K starting · COL 101
26 colleges
Orlando, FL
$42K starting · COL 96
16 colleges
St. Petersburg, FL
$43K starting · COL 97
22 colleges
Hialeah, FL
$34K starting · COL 78
22 colleges
Port St. Lucie, FL
$43K starting · COL 98.5
8 colleges
Tallahassee, FL
$39K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Cape Coral, FL
$43K starting · COL 97.8
7 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Jacksonville
Journalism Degree in Jacksonville — 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 Jacksonville.