Journalism Degree in Oklahoma City, OK — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Oklahoma City, OK. 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
9.6 yrs
in Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
97
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Oklahoma City, OK Overview
Oklahoma City is one of Oklahoma's top college towns, with 37 institutions and a student population of 35,923. Public tuition averages $7,756/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 Oklahoma City is approximately $42,680.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
37
Public Tuition
$7,756/yr
Private Tuition
$31,115/yr
Room & Board
$13,112/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,650/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
65%
Journalism Salary in Oklahoma City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Oklahoma City'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.Oklahoma City adjustment factor: 0.97x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Oklahoma City
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Oklahoma City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,756 | Private avg: $31,115
Oklahoma City avg aid: $12,650/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$83,472
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,730
vs HS diploma in Oklahoma City
ROI Payback Period
9.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Oklahoma City
$188,128
Lifetime earnings premium ($271,600) minus total education cost ($83,472)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Oklahoma City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Oklahoma City for Journalism
University of Central Oklahoma
public
$7,756/yr
$31,024 total
Oklahoma City University
private
$35,200/yr
$140,800 total
Oklahoma Christian University
private
$27,030/yr
$108,120 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Oklahoma City Community College
$3,870/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Oklahoma City Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Oklahoma Cities
Tulsa, OK
$37K starting · COL 84
15 colleges
Norman, OK
$38K starting · COL 86
10 colleges
Broken Arrow, OK
$40K starting · COL 91.8
5 colleges
Edmond, OK
$42K starting · COL 95.2
4 colleges
Lawton, OK
$36K starting · COL 82.5
4 colleges
Moore, OK
$39K starting · COL 89.3
3 colleges
Midwest City, OK
$40K starting · COL 91.1
3 colleges
Stillwater, OK
$38K starting · COL 87.3
3 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Oklahoma City
Journalism Degree in Oklahoma City — 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 Oklahoma City.