Journalism Degree in Macon, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Macon, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$63K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
10 yrs
in Macon
Cost of Living
101
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Macon, GA Overview
Macon, Georgia (pop. 157,346) has 13 colleges offering Journalism programs. The local cost of living index of 101 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,007/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 Macon is approximately $44,440.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$11,056/yr
Private Tuition
$40,560/yr
Room & Board
$11,733/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,538/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
48%
Journalism Salary in Macon (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Macon's cost of living index of 101 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Macon adjustment factor: 1.01x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Macon
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Macon tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,056 | Private avg: $40,560
Macon avg aid: $10,538/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$91,156
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,090
vs HS diploma in Macon
ROI Payback Period
10 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Macon
$191,644
Lifetime earnings premium ($282,800) minus total education cost ($91,156)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Macon
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Macon for Journalism
Mercer University
private
$40,560/yr
$162,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Central Georgia Technical College
$3,152/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Macon
Macon offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Macon Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$44K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Columbus, GA
$37K starting · COL 84.5
8 colleges
Augusta, GA
$37K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Savannah, GA
$42K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Athens, GA
$45K starting · COL 103
11 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$50K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$48K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$50K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Macon
Journalism Degree in Macon — 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 Macon.