Communication Studies Degree in Pittsburgh, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Communication Studies degree analysis for Pittsburgh, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$60K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$83K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.3 yrs
in Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
115
index (100 = avg)
Communication Studies in Pittsburgh, PA Overview
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (pop. 302,971) has 12 colleges offering Communication Studies programs. The local cost of living index of 115 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,285/month. Communication Studies enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Public Speaking and Media Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Pittsburgh is approximately $59,800.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$19,718/yr
Private Tuition
$61,344/yr
Room & Board
$15,793/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,441/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
63%
Communication Studies Salary in Pittsburgh (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Pittsburgh's cost of living index of 115 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Communication Studies salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Pittsburgh adjustment factor: 1.15x based on the local cost of living index.
Communication Studies ROI Calculator for Pittsburgh
Estimate your return on investment for a Communication Studies degree using local Pittsburgh tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $19,718 | Private avg: $61,344
Pittsburgh avg aid: $13,441/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$142,044
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,550
vs HS diploma in Pittsburgh
ROI Payback Period
7.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Pittsburgh
$777,956
Lifetime earnings premium ($920,000) minus total education cost ($142,044)
Student Loan Payoff for Communication Studies in Pittsburgh
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Pittsburgh for Communication Studies
University of Pittsburgh
public
$19,718/yr
$78,872 total
Carnegie Mellon University
private
$61,344/yr
$245,376 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Allegheny County
$5,070/yr
Top Employers for Communication Studies in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Communication Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Pittsburgh 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
Philadelphia, PA
$78K starting · COL 150
42 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 Pittsburgh
Communication Studies Degree in Pittsburgh — 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 Pittsburgh.