Communication Studies Degree in Boston, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Communication Studies degree analysis for Boston, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$71K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$99K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.9 yrs
in Boston
Cost of Living
137
index (100 = avg)
Communication Studies in Boston, MA Overview
Boston is one of Massachusetts's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 40,388. Public tuition averages $14,167/year here — near the national average for public universities. Communication Studies enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Public Speaking and Media Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Boston is approximately $71,240.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$14,167/yr
Private Tuition
$60,730/yr
Room & Board
$14,423/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,458/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
56%
Communication Studies Salary in Boston (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Boston's cost of living index of 137 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Communication Studies salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Boston adjustment factor: 1.37x based on the local cost of living index.
Communication Studies ROI Calculator for Boston
Estimate your return on investment for a Communication Studies degree using local Boston tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,167 | Private avg: $60,730
Boston avg aid: $10,458/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$114,360
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$23,290
vs HS diploma in Boston
ROI Payback Period
4.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Boston
$981,640
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,096,000) minus total education cost ($114,360)
Student Loan Payoff for Communication Studies in Boston
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Boston for Communication Studies
Boston University
private
$62,360/yr
$249,440 total
Northeastern University
private
$59,100/yr
$236,400 total
University of Massachusetts Boston
public
$14,167/yr
$56,668 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bunker Hill Community College
$5,760/yr
Roxbury Community College
$5,280/yr
Top Employers for Communication Studies in Boston
Boston offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Communication Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Boston Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Communication Studies Job Titles
Communication Studies in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Worcester, MA
$61K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$69K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$69K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$59K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$56K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$67K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$53K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$62K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Social Science Majors in Boston
Communication Studies Degree in Boston — 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 Communication Studies ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Boston.