Journalism Degree in Raleigh, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Raleigh, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$37K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$51K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
10.4 yrs
in Raleigh
Cost of Living
83
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Raleigh, NC Overview
Raleigh is one of North Carolina's top college towns, with 21 institutions and a student population of 113,809. Public tuition averages $9,101/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 Raleigh is approximately $36,520.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
21
Public Tuition
$9,101/yr
Private Tuition
$30,399/yr
Room & Board
$10,389/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,262/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
62%
Journalism Salary in Raleigh (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Raleigh's cost of living index of 83 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Raleigh adjustment factor: 0.83x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Raleigh
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Raleigh tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,101 | Private avg: $30,399
Raleigh avg aid: $7,262/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$77,960
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,470
vs HS diploma in Raleigh
ROI Payback Period
10.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Raleigh
$154,440
Lifetime earnings premium ($232,400) minus total education cost ($77,960)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Raleigh
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Raleigh for Journalism
North Carolina State University
public
$9,101/yr
$36,404 total
Meredith College
private
$42,074/yr
$168,296 total
Shaw University
private
$18,724/yr
$74,896 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Wake Technical Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Raleigh
Raleigh offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Raleigh Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$39K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$40K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$48K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$47K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$40K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Cary, NC
$48K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Wilmington, NC
$42K starting · COL 95
5 colleges
High Point, NC
$37K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Raleigh
Journalism Degree in Raleigh — 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 Raleigh.