Journalism Degree in Kansas City, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Kansas City, MO. 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
10.7 yrs
in Kansas City
Cost of Living
94
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Kansas City, MO Overview
Kansas City is one of Missouri's top college towns, with 44 institutions and a student population of 48,810. Public tuition averages $11,602/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 Kansas City is approximately $41,360.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
44
Public Tuition
$11,602/yr
Private Tuition
$28,175/yr
Room & Board
$11,026/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,485/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
45%
Journalism Salary in Kansas City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Kansas City's cost of living index of 94 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Kansas City adjustment factor: 0.94x 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: $11,602 | Private avg: $28,175
Kansas City avg aid: $15,485/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,512
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,460
vs HS diploma in Kansas City
ROI Payback Period
10.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Kansas City
$172,688
Lifetime earnings premium ($263,200) minus total education cost ($90,512)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Kansas City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Kansas City for Journalism
University of Missouri-Kansas City
public
$11,602/yr
$46,408 total
Rockhurst University
private
$42,960/yr
$171,840 total
Park University
private
$13,390/yr
$53,560 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Metropolitan Community College
$3,900/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 Missouri Cities
St. Louis, MO
$43K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Springfield, MO
$35K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Columbia, MO
$37K starting · COL 84
10 colleges
Independence, MO
$38K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$42K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$38K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$40K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$37K starting · COL 83.4
3 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.