Communication Studies Degree in Philadelphia, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Communication Studies degree analysis for Philadelphia, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$78K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$108K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Philadelphia
Cost of Living
150
index (100 = avg)
Communication Studies in Philadelphia, PA Overview
Philadelphia is one of Pennsylvania's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 116,806. Public tuition averages $18,526/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 Philadelphia is approximately $78,000.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$18,526/yr
Private Tuition
$59,845/yr
Room & Board
$19,639/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,866/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
52%
Communication Studies Salary in Philadelphia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Philadelphia's cost of living index of 150 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Communication Studies salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Philadelphia adjustment factor: 1.50x based on the local cost of living index.
Communication Studies ROI Calculator for Philadelphia
Estimate your return on investment for a Communication Studies degree using local Philadelphia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $18,526 | Private avg: $59,845
Philadelphia avg aid: $10,866/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$152,660
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$25,500
vs HS diploma in Philadelphia
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Philadelphia
$1,047,340
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,200,000) minus total education cost ($152,660)
Student Loan Payoff for Communication Studies in Philadelphia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Philadelphia for Communication Studies
University of Pennsylvania
private
$63,452/yr
$253,808 total
Temple University
public
$18,526/yr
$74,104 total
Drexel University
private
$56,238/yr
$224,952 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Philadelphia
$6,378/yr
Top Employers for Communication Studies in Philadelphia
Philadelphia offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Communication Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Philadelphia Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Communication Studies Job Titles
Communication Studies in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Pittsburgh, PA
$60K starting · COL 115
12 colleges
Allentown, PA
$59K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$61K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$62K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Upper Darby, PA
$49K starting · COL 94.5
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$62K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$65K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$48K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Social Science Majors in Philadelphia
Communication Studies Degree in Philadelphia — 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 Philadelphia.