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Communication Studies Degree in Fort Lauderdale, FL — Salary & ROI 2026

Communication Studies degree analysis for Fort Lauderdale, FL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$48K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$66K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

5.8 yrs

in Fort Lauderdale

Cost of Living

92

index (100 = avg)

Communication Studies in Fort Lauderdale, FL Overview

While Fort Lauderdale has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Communication Studies students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $11,777/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Communication Studies enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Public Speaking and Media Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Fort Lauderdale is approximately $47,840.

Category

Social Science

Local Colleges

5

Public Tuition

$10,805/yr

Private Tuition

$33,650/yr

Room & Board

$11,777/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$7,111/yr

Unemployment

4.5%

Graduation Rate

47%

Communication Studies Salary in Fort Lauderdale (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$47,840($-4,160 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$66,240($-5,760 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$87,400($-7,600 vs national)

Note: National average Communication Studies salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Fort Lauderdale adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.

Communication Studies ROI Calculator for Fort Lauderdale

Estimate your return on investment for a Communication Studies degree using local Fort Lauderdale tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $10,805 | Private avg: $33,650

Fort Lauderdale avg aid: $7,111/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$90,328

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$15,640

vs HS diploma in Fort Lauderdale

ROI Payback Period

5.8 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Fort Lauderdale

$645,672

Lifetime earnings premium ($736,000) minus total education cost ($90,328)

Student Loan Payoff for Communication Studies in Fort Lauderdale

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$90,328
Monthly Payment$1,026
Total Interest$32,751
% of Monthly Income26%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$90,328
Monthly Payment$1,767
Total Interest$15,714
Interest Savings$17,036

Colleges in Fort Lauderdale for Communication Studies

Nova Southeastern University

private

$33,650/yr

$134,600 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Broward College

$3,120/yr

Top Employers for Communication Studies in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Communication Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:

PR firmsMedia companiesCorporate commsNonprofits

Key Fort Lauderdale Hiring Sectors for Social Science

Tech companies

Research labs

Government agencies

Startups

Consulting firms

Common Communication Studies Job Titles

Communications ManagerPR SpecialistMedia Planner

Other Social Science Majors in Fort Lauderdale

Communication Studies Degree in Fort Lauderdale — 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.

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Compare Communication Studies ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Fort Lauderdale.

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