Journalism Degree in Newport News, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Newport News, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$57K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
13.8 yrs
in Newport News
Cost of Living
92.5
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Newport News, VA Overview
Newport News, Virginia (pop. 186,247) has 7 colleges offering Journalism programs. The local cost of living index of 92.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $705/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 Newport News is approximately $40,700.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,491/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,779/yr
Unemployment
2.2%
Graduation Rate
51%
Journalism Salary in Newport News (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Newport News's cost of living index of 92.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Newport News adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Newport News
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Newport News tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Newport News avg aid: $9,779/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$114,764
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,325
vs HS diploma in Newport News
ROI Payback Period
13.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Newport News
$144,236
Lifetime earnings premium ($259,000) minus total education cost ($114,764)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Newport News
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Newport News for Journalism
Newport News State University
public
$13,266/yr
$53,064 total
University of Newport News
public
$15,083/yr
$60,332 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Newport News Community College
$5,242/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Newport News
Newport News offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Newport News Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$39K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$40K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$63K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$41K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Richmond, VA
$44K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$45K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$43K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$39K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Newport News
Journalism Degree in Newport News — 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 Newport News.