Journalism Degree in Memphis, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Memphis, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$58K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
11.5 yrs
in Memphis
Cost of Living
93
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Memphis, TN Overview
Memphis is one of Tennessee's top college towns, with 22 institutions and a student population of 42,935. Public tuition averages $9,944/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 Memphis is approximately $40,920.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
22
Public Tuition
$9,944/yr
Private Tuition
$44,033/yr
Room & Board
$14,138/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,619/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
72%
Journalism Salary in Memphis (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Memphis's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Memphis adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Memphis
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Memphis tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,944 | Private avg: $44,033
Memphis avg aid: $10,619/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$96,328
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,370
vs HS diploma in Memphis
ROI Payback Period
11.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Memphis
$164,072
Lifetime earnings premium ($260,400) minus total education cost ($96,328)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Memphis
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Memphis for Journalism
University of Memphis
public
$9,944/yr
$39,776 total
Rhodes College
private
$52,366/yr
$209,464 total
Christian Brothers University
private
$35,700/yr
$142,800 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Southwest Tennessee Community College
$4,464/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Memphis
Memphis offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Memphis Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Nashville, TN
$40K starting · COL 92
35 colleges
Knoxville, TN
$37K starting · COL 85
5 colleges
Chattanooga, TN
$35K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Clarksville, TN
$40K starting · COL 90
9 colleges
Murfreesboro, TN
$40K starting · COL 91
10 colleges
Franklin, TN
$52K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Jackson, TN
$36K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$46K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Memphis
Journalism Degree in Memphis — 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 Memphis.