Journalism Degree in Laredo, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Laredo, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$40K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$56K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.6 yrs
in Laredo
Cost of Living
90
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Laredo, TX Overview
Laredo, Texas (pop. 255,305) has 14 colleges offering Journalism programs. The local cost of living index of 90 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $982/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 Laredo is approximately $39,600.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$7,850/yr
Private Tuition
$40,249/yr
Room & Board
$9,561/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,889/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
60%
Journalism Salary in Laredo (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Laredo's cost of living index of 90 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Laredo adjustment factor: 0.90x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Laredo
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Laredo tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,850 | Private avg: $40,249
Laredo avg aid: $9,889/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$69,644
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,100
vs HS diploma in Laredo
ROI Payback Period
8.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Laredo
$182,356
Lifetime earnings premium ($252,000) minus total education cost ($69,644)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Laredo
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Laredo for Journalism
Texas A&M International University
public
$7,850/yr
$31,400 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Laredo College
$2,604/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Laredo
Laredo offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Laredo Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$51K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$53K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$46K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$47K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$44K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$41K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$41K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$36K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Laredo
Journalism Degree in Laredo — 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 Laredo.