Journalism Degree in Plymouth, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Plymouth, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$67K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
12 yrs
in Plymouth
Cost of Living
107.3
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Plymouth, MN Overview
While Plymouth has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Journalism students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,754/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 Plymouth is approximately $47,212.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,754/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,061/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
71%
Journalism Salary in Plymouth (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Plymouth's cost of living index of 107.3 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Plymouth adjustment factor: 1.07x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Plymouth
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Plymouth tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Plymouth avg aid: $10,061/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$115,816
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,657
vs HS diploma in Plymouth
ROI Payback Period
12 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Plymouth
$184,624
Lifetime earnings premium ($300,440) minus total education cost ($115,816)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Plymouth
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Plymouth for Journalism
Plymouth State University
public
$14,111/yr
$56,444 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Plymouth Community College
$6,023/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Plymouth
Plymouth offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Plymouth Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Minnesota Cities
Minneapolis, MN
$43K starting · COL 97
15 colleges
Saint Paul, MN
$45K starting · COL 101.5
11 colleges
St. Paul, MN
$48K starting · COL 108
20 colleges
Rochester, MN
$46K starting · COL 105
8 colleges
Duluth, MN
$44K starting · COL 100
5 colleges
Bloomington, MN
$44K starting · COL 100.2
4 colleges
Brooklyn Park, MN
$43K starting · COL 98.8
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$47K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Plymouth
Journalism Degree in Plymouth — 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 Plymouth.