Communication Studies Degree in Cleveland, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Communication Studies degree analysis for Cleveland, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$69K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.3 yrs
in Cleveland
Cost of Living
96
index (100 = avg)
Communication Studies in Cleveland, OH Overview
Cleveland, Ohio (pop. 372,624) has 20 colleges offering Communication Studies programs. The local cost of living index of 96 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,156/month. Communication Studies enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Public Speaking and Media Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Cleveland is approximately $49,920.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$11,270/yr
Private Tuition
$49,395/yr
Room & Board
$10,394/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,310/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
69%
Communication Studies Salary in Cleveland (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Cleveland's cost of living index of 96 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Communication Studies salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Cleveland adjustment factor: 0.96x based on the local cost of living index.
Communication Studies ROI Calculator for Cleveland
Estimate your return on investment for a Communication Studies degree using local Cleveland tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,270 | Private avg: $49,395
Cleveland avg aid: $7,310/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,656
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,320
vs HS diploma in Cleveland
ROI Payback Period
5.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Cleveland
$681,344
Lifetime earnings premium ($768,000) minus total education cost ($86,656)
Student Loan Payoff for Communication Studies in Cleveland
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Cleveland for Communication Studies
Case Western Reserve University
private
$56,480/yr
$225,920 total
Cleveland State University
public
$11,270/yr
$45,080 total
John Carroll University
private
$42,310/yr
$169,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cuyahoga Community College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Communication Studies in Cleveland
Cleveland offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Communication Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Cleveland Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Communication Studies Job Titles
Communication Studies in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$54K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$53K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$56K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Akron, OH
$55K starting · COL 105
5 colleges
Dayton, OH
$54K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$47K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$44K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$44K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other Social Science Majors in Cleveland
Communication Studies Degree in Cleveland — 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 Cleveland.