Journalism Degree in Kansas City, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Kansas City, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$36K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$51K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
12.5 yrs
in Kansas City
Cost of Living
82.5
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Kansas City, KS Overview
Kansas City, Kansas (pop. 156,607) has 6 colleges offering Journalism programs. The local cost of living index of 82.5 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $405/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 Kansas City is approximately $36,300.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$10,000/yr
Private Tuition
$28,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,267/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,093/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
61%
Journalism Salary in Kansas City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Kansas City's cost of living index of 82.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Kansas City adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Kansas City
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Kansas City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,000 | Private avg: $28,000
Kansas City avg aid: $14,093/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,068
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,425
vs HS diploma in Kansas City
ROI Payback Period
12.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Kansas City
$137,932
Lifetime earnings premium ($231,000) minus total education cost ($93,068)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Kansas City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Kansas City for Journalism
Kansas City State University
public
$9,282/yr
$37,128 total
University of Kansas City
public
$9,330/yr
$37,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Kansas City Community College
$5,644/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Kansas City
Kansas City offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Kansas City Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Kansas Cities
Wichita, KS
$46K starting · COL 104
20 colleges
Overland Park, KS
$45K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Olathe, KS
$43K starting · COL 96.8
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$37K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Lawrence, KS
$48K starting · COL 108
5 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$38K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$42K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$42K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Kansas City
Journalism Degree in Kansas City — 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 Kansas City.