Journalism Degree in Las Vegas, NV — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Las Vegas, NV. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$71K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.7 yrs
in Las Vegas
Cost of Living
115
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Las Vegas, NV Overview
Las Vegas is one of Nevada's top college towns, with 45 institutions and a student population of 59,628. Public tuition averages $7,361/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 Las Vegas is approximately $50,600.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
45
Public Tuition
$7,361/yr
Private Tuition
$22,950/yr
Room & Board
$12,522/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,003/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
64%
Journalism Salary in Las Vegas (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Las Vegas's cost of living index of 115 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Las Vegas adjustment factor: 1.15x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Las Vegas
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Las Vegas tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,361 | Private avg: $22,950
Las Vegas avg aid: $15,003/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,532
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$10,350
vs HS diploma in Las Vegas
ROI Payback Period
7.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Las Vegas
$242,468
Lifetime earnings premium ($322,000) minus total education cost ($79,532)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Las Vegas
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Las Vegas for Journalism
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
public
$8,691/yr
$34,764 total
Nevada State University
public
$6,030/yr
$24,120 total
Touro University Nevada
private
$22,950/yr
$91,800 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
College of Southern Nevada
$3,420/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Las Vegas
Las Vegas offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Las Vegas Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Nevada Cities
Henderson, NV
$57K starting · COL 129
12 colleges
Reno, NV
$51K starting · COL 116
21 colleges
North Las Vegas, NV
$43K starting · COL 98.5
10 colleges
Spring Valley, NV
$44K starting · COL 100.2
8 colleges
Sunrise Manor, NV
$42K starting · COL 95.8
7 colleges
Paradise, NV
$44K starting · COL 100.5
7 colleges
Enterprise, NV
$46K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Sparks, NV
$46K starting · COL 105.2
5 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Las Vegas
Journalism Degree in Las Vegas — 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 Las Vegas.