Communication Studies Degree in St. Paul, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Communication Studies degree analysis for St. Paul, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$78K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.2 yrs
in St. Paul
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
Communication Studies in St. Paul, MN Overview
St. Paul, Minnesota (pop. 308,096) has 20 colleges offering Communication Studies programs. The local cost of living index of 108 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $843/month. Communication Studies enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Public Speaking and Media Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in St. Paul is approximately $56,160.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$10,448/yr
Private Tuition
$52,990/yr
Room & Board
$13,408/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,005/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
70%
Communication Studies Salary in St. Paul (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for St. Paul's cost of living index of 108 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Communication Studies salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.St. Paul adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Communication Studies ROI Calculator for St. Paul
Estimate your return on investment for a Communication Studies degree using local St. Paul tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,448 | Private avg: $52,990
St. Paul avg aid: $15,005/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,424
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,360
vs HS diploma in St. Paul
ROI Payback Period
5.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in St. Paul
$768,576
Lifetime earnings premium ($864,000) minus total education cost ($95,424)
Student Loan Payoff for Communication Studies in St. Paul
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in St. Paul for Communication Studies
Hamline University
private
$45,776/yr
$183,104 total
Macalester College
private
$60,204/yr
$240,816 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Saint Paul College
$5,772/yr
Top Employers for Communication Studies in St. Paul
St. Paul offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Communication Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key St. Paul Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Communication Studies Job Titles
Communication Studies in Nearby Minnesota Cities
Minneapolis, MN
$50K starting · COL 97
15 colleges
Saint Paul, MN
$53K starting · COL 101.5
11 colleges
Rochester, MN
$55K starting · COL 105
8 colleges
Duluth, MN
$52K starting · COL 100
5 colleges
Bloomington, MN
$52K starting · COL 100.2
4 colleges
Brooklyn Park, MN
$51K starting · COL 98.8
4 colleges
Plymouth, MN
$56K starting · COL 107.3
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$56K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Other Social Science Majors in St. Paul
Communication Studies Degree in St. Paul — 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 St. Paul.