Journalism Degree in Savannah, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Savannah, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$59K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
9.1 yrs
in Savannah
Cost of Living
95
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Savannah, GA Overview
Savannah, Georgia (pop. 147,780) has 12 colleges offering Journalism programs. The local cost of living index of 95 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,169/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 Savannah is approximately $41,800.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$6,268/yr
Private Tuition
$39,765/yr
Room & Board
$13,088/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,756/yr
Unemployment
6.4%
Graduation Rate
64%
Journalism Salary in Savannah (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Savannah's cost of living index of 95 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Savannah adjustment factor: 0.95x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Savannah
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Savannah tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,268 | Private avg: $39,765
Savannah avg aid: $9,756/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$77,424
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,550
vs HS diploma in Savannah
ROI Payback Period
9.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Savannah
$188,576
Lifetime earnings premium ($266,000) minus total education cost ($77,424)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Savannah
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Savannah for Journalism
Savannah College of Art and Design
private
$39,765/yr
$159,060 total
Savannah State University
public
$6,268/yr
$25,072 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Savannah Technical College
$3,152/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Savannah
Savannah offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Savannah Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$44K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Columbus, GA
$37K starting · COL 84.5
8 colleges
Augusta, GA
$37K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Macon, GA
$44K starting · COL 101
13 colleges
Athens, GA
$45K starting · COL 103
11 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$50K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$48K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$50K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Savannah
Journalism Degree in Savannah — 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 Savannah.