Journalism Degree in Madison, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Madison, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$39K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$55K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
11.3 yrs
in Madison
Cost of Living
89
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Madison, WI Overview
Madison, Wisconsin (pop. 269,840) has 11 colleges offering Journalism programs. The local cost of living index of 89 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $902/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 Madison is approximately $39,160.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$10,725/yr
Private Tuition
$33,350/yr
Room & Board
$11,942/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,815/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
73%
Journalism Salary in Madison (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Madison's cost of living index of 89 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Madison adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Madison
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Madison tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,725 | Private avg: $33,350
Madison avg aid: $15,815/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,668
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,010
vs HS diploma in Madison
ROI Payback Period
11.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Madison
$158,532
Lifetime earnings premium ($249,200) minus total education cost ($90,668)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Madison
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Madison for Journalism
University of Wisconsin-Madison
public
$10,725/yr
$42,900 total
Edgewood College
private
$33,350/yr
$133,400 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Madison Area Technical College
$4,632/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Madison
Madison offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Madison Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$41K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$38K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$47K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Racine, WI
$38K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Appleton, WI
$35K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$40K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$38K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$47K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Madison
Journalism Degree in Madison — 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 Madison.