Journalism Degree in OFallon, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for OFallon, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$38K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$54K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
12.3 yrs
in OFallon
Cost of Living
87.3
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in OFallon, MO Overview
While OFallon has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Journalism students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $13,914/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 OFallon is approximately $38,412.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,200/yr
Private Tuition
$30,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,914/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,699/yr
Unemployment
3.2%
Graduation Rate
63%
Journalism Salary in OFallon (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for OFallon's cost of living index of 87.3 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.OFallon adjustment factor: 0.87x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for OFallon
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local OFallon tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,200 | Private avg: $30,000
OFallon avg aid: $11,699/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$96,456
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,857
vs HS diploma in OFallon
ROI Payback Period
12.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in OFallon
$147,984
Lifetime earnings premium ($244,440) minus total education cost ($96,456)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in OFallon
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in OFallon for Journalism
OFallon State University
public
$10,900/yr
$43,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
OFallon Community College
$5,560/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in OFallon
OFallon offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key OFallon Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$41K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$43K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Springfield, MO
$35K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Columbia, MO
$37K starting · COL 84
10 colleges
Independence, MO
$38K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$42K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$40K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$37K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Communications Majors in OFallon
Journalism Degree in OFallon — 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 OFallon.