Journalism Degree in Minneapolis, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Minneapolis, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$60K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
12.6 yrs
in Minneapolis
Cost of Living
97
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Minneapolis, MN Overview
Minneapolis, Minnesota (pop. 429,954) has 15 colleges offering Journalism programs. The local cost of living index of 97 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $805/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 Minneapolis is approximately $42,680.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
15
Public Tuition
$15,142/yr
Private Tuition
$45,823/yr
Room & Board
$12,394/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,033/yr
Unemployment
4.4%
Graduation Rate
61%
Journalism Salary in Minneapolis (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Minneapolis's cost of living index of 97 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Minneapolis adjustment factor: 0.97x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Minneapolis
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Minneapolis tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $15,142 | Private avg: $45,823
Minneapolis avg aid: $14,033/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$110,144
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,730
vs HS diploma in Minneapolis
ROI Payback Period
12.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Minneapolis
$161,456
Lifetime earnings premium ($271,600) minus total education cost ($110,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Minneapolis
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Minneapolis for Journalism
University of Minnesota
public
$15,142/yr
$60,568 total
University of St. Thomas
private
$49,716/yr
$198,864 total
Augsburg University
private
$41,930/yr
$167,720 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Minneapolis College
$5,772/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Minneapolis
Minneapolis offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Minneapolis Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Minnesota Cities
Saint Paul, MN
$45K starting · COL 101.5
11 colleges
St. Paul, MN
$48K starting · COL 108
20 colleges
Rochester, MN
$46K starting · COL 105
8 colleges
Duluth, MN
$44K starting · COL 100
5 colleges
Bloomington, MN
$44K starting · COL 100.2
4 colleges
Brooklyn Park, MN
$43K starting · COL 98.8
4 colleges
Plymouth, MN
$47K starting · COL 107.3
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$47K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Minneapolis
Journalism Degree in Minneapolis — 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 Minneapolis.