Journalism Degree in Wilmington, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Wilmington, NC. 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
8 yrs
in Wilmington
Cost of Living
95
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Wilmington, NC Overview
While Wilmington has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Journalism students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $9,779/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 Wilmington is approximately $41,800.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$7,287/yr
Private Tuition
$34,393/yr
Room & Board
$9,779/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,831/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
48%
Journalism Salary in Wilmington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Wilmington'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.Wilmington adjustment factor: 0.95x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Wilmington
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Wilmington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,287 | Private avg: $34,393
Wilmington avg aid: $13,831/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$68,264
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,550
vs HS diploma in Wilmington
ROI Payback Period
8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Wilmington
$197,736
Lifetime earnings premium ($266,000) minus total education cost ($68,264)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Wilmington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Wilmington for Journalism
University of North Carolina Wilmington
public
$7,287/yr
$29,148 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cape Fear Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Wilmington
Wilmington offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Wilmington 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
Raleigh, NC
$37K starting · COL 83
21 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
High Point, NC
$37K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Wilmington
Journalism Degree in Wilmington — 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 Wilmington.