Journalism Degree in Peoria, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Peoria, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$64K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.9 yrs
in Peoria
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Peoria, IL Overview
While Peoria has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Journalism students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $10,566/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 Peoria is approximately $45,760.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$8,032/yr
Private Tuition
$38,400/yr
Room & Board
$10,566/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,588/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
Journalism Salary in Peoria (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Peoria's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Peoria adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Peoria
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Peoria tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,032 | Private avg: $38,400
Peoria avg aid: $9,588/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$74,392
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,360
vs HS diploma in Peoria
ROI Payback Period
7.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Peoria
$216,808
Lifetime earnings premium ($291,200) minus total education cost ($74,392)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Peoria
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Peoria for Journalism
Bradley University
private
$38,400/yr
$153,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Illinois Central College
$4,980/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Peoria
Peoria offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Peoria Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$48K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Aurora, IL
$41K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$48K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$45K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$40K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$35K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$40K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$40K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Peoria
Journalism Degree in Peoria — 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 Peoria.