Journalism Degree in Orlando, FL — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Orlando, FL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$60K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.5 yrs
in Orlando
Cost of Living
96
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Orlando, FL Overview
Orlando, Florida (pop. 307,573) has 16 colleges offering Journalism programs. The local cost of living index of 96 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $804/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 Orlando is approximately $42,240.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$6,368/yr
Private Tuition
$44,990/yr
Room & Board
$9,733/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,728/yr
Unemployment
6.5%
Graduation Rate
75%
Journalism Salary in Orlando (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Orlando's cost of living index of 96 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Orlando adjustment factor: 0.96x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Orlando
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Orlando tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,368 | Private avg: $44,990
Orlando avg aid: $11,728/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$64,404
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,640
vs HS diploma in Orlando
ROI Payback Period
7.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Orlando
$204,396
Lifetime earnings premium ($268,800) minus total education cost ($64,404)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Orlando
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Orlando for Journalism
University of Central Florida
public
$6,368/yr
$25,472 total
Rollins College
private
$44,990/yr
$179,960 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Valencia College
$3,110/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Orlando
Orlando offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Orlando Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Florida Cities
Jacksonville, FL
$51K starting · COL 117
35 colleges
Miami, FL
$43K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tampa, FL
$44K starting · COL 101
26 colleges
St. Petersburg, FL
$43K starting · COL 97
22 colleges
Hialeah, FL
$34K starting · COL 78
22 colleges
Port St. Lucie, FL
$43K starting · COL 98.5
8 colleges
Tallahassee, FL
$39K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Cape Coral, FL
$43K starting · COL 97.8
7 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Orlando
Journalism Degree in Orlando — 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 Orlando.