Journalism Degree in Lee's Summit, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Lee's Summit, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$59K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
11.3 yrs
in Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
95.5
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Lee's Summit, MO Overview
While Lee's Summit has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Journalism students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $14,180/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Lee's Summit is approximately $42,020.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,200/yr
Private Tuition
$30,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,180/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,461/yr
Unemployment
2.8%
Graduation Rate
45%
Journalism Salary in Lee's Summit (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lee's Summit's cost of living index of 95.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Lee's Summit adjustment factor: 0.95x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Lee's Summit
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Lee's Summit tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,200 | Private avg: $30,000
Lee's Summit avg aid: $8,461/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$97,520
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,595
vs HS diploma in Lee's Summit
ROI Payback Period
11.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lee's Summit
$169,880
Lifetime earnings premium ($267,400) minus total education cost ($97,520)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Lee's Summit
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lee's Summit for Journalism
Lee's Summit State University
public
$9,311/yr
$37,244 total
University of Lee's Summit
public
$11,299/yr
$45,196 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lee's Summit Community College
$5,472/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Lee's Summit
Lee's Summit offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lee's Summit Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$41K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
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
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 Lee's Summit
Journalism Degree in Lee's Summit — 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 Lee's Summit.