Journalism Degree in Tempe, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Tempe, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$70K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
12.6 yrs
in Tempe
Cost of Living
113
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Tempe, AZ Overview
While Tempe has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Journalism students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $19,552/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 Tempe is approximately $49,720.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$12,467/yr
Private Tuition
$40,205/yr
Room & Board
$19,552/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,200/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
73%
Journalism Salary in Tempe (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Tempe's cost of living index of 113 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Tempe adjustment factor: 1.13x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Tempe
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Tempe tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,467 | Private avg: $40,205
Tempe avg aid: $15,200/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$128,076
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$10,170
vs HS diploma in Tempe
ROI Payback Period
12.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Tempe
$188,324
Lifetime earnings premium ($316,400) minus total education cost ($128,076)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Tempe
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Tempe for Journalism
Arizona State University
public
$12,467/yr
$49,868 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Rio Salado College
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Tempe
Tempe offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Tempe Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$67K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$51K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Mesa, AZ
$48K starting · COL 110
31 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$55K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$52K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$46K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$55K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$46K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Tempe
Journalism Degree in Tempe — 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 Tempe.