Journalism Degree in Norfolk, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Norfolk, VA. 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
9.6 yrs
in Norfolk
Cost of Living
93
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Norfolk, VA Overview
Norfolk, Virginia (pop. 238,005) has 16 colleges offering Journalism programs. The local cost of living index of 93 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $956/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 Norfolk is approximately $40,920.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$10,571/yr
Private Tuition
$25,348/yr
Room & Board
$9,443/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,816/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
Journalism Salary in Norfolk (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Norfolk'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.Norfolk adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Norfolk
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Norfolk tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,571 | Private avg: $25,348
Norfolk avg aid: $15,816/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$80,056
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,370
vs HS diploma in Norfolk
ROI Payback Period
9.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Norfolk
$180,344
Lifetime earnings premium ($260,400) minus total education cost ($80,056)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Norfolk
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Norfolk for Journalism
Old Dominion University
public
$11,210/yr
$44,840 total
Norfolk State University
public
$9,932/yr
$39,728 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tidewater Community College Norfolk
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Norfolk
Norfolk offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Norfolk 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
Richmond, VA
$44K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Newport News, VA
$41K starting · COL 92.5
7 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 Norfolk
Journalism Degree in Norfolk — 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 Norfolk.