Journalism Degree in Racine, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Racine, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$38K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$53K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
12 yrs
in Racine
Cost of Living
85.8
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Racine, WI Overview
While Racine has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Journalism students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,562/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 Racine is approximately $37,752.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,600/yr
Private Tuition
$34,000/yr
Room & Board
$12,562/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,051/yr
Unemployment
2.1%
Graduation Rate
72%
Journalism Salary in Racine (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Racine's cost of living index of 85.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Racine adjustment factor: 0.86x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Racine
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Racine tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,600 | Private avg: $34,000
Racine avg aid: $8,051/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,648
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,722
vs HS diploma in Racine
ROI Payback Period
12 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Racine
$147,592
Lifetime earnings premium ($240,240) minus total education cost ($92,648)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Racine
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Racine for Journalism
Racine State University
public
$11,121/yr
$44,484 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Racine Community College
$5,143/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Racine
Racine offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Racine Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$41K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Madison, WI
$39K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$38K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$47K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Appleton, WI
$35K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$40K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$38K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$47K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Racine
Journalism Degree in Racine — 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 Racine.