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Communication Studies Degree in Surprise, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026

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

Starting Salary

$52K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$72K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

6 yrs

in Surprise

Cost of Living

100.2

index (100 = avg)

Communication Studies in Surprise, AZ Overview

Surprise, Arizona (pop. 143,148) has 6 colleges offering Communication Studies programs. The local cost of living index of 100.2 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,095/month. Communication Studies enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Public Speaking and Media Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Surprise is approximately $52,104.

Category

Social Science

Local Colleges

6

Public Tuition

$11,400/yr

Private Tuition

$24,000/yr

Room & Board

$14,357/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$13,568/yr

Unemployment

3.5%

Graduation Rate

49%

Communication Studies Salary in Surprise (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Surprise's cost of living index of 100.2 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$52,104(+$104 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$72,144(+$144 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$95,190(+$190 vs national)

Note: National average Communication Studies salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Surprise adjustment factor: 1.00x based on the local cost of living index.

Communication Studies ROI Calculator for Surprise

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

Public avg: $11,400 | Private avg: $24,000

Surprise avg aid: $13,568/yr

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

Total Education Cost

$103,028

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$17,034

vs HS diploma in Surprise

ROI Payback Period

6 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Surprise

$698,572

Lifetime earnings premium ($801,600) minus total education cost ($103,028)

Student Loan Payoff for Communication Studies in Surprise

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$103,028
Monthly Payment$1,170
Total Interest$37,355
% of Monthly Income27%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$103,028
Monthly Payment$2,016
Total Interest$17,924
Interest Savings$19,432

Colleges in Surprise for Communication Studies

Surprise State University

public

$12,369/yr

$49,476 total

University of Surprise

public

$12,295/yr

$49,180 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Surprise Community College

$5,065/yr

Top Employers for Communication Studies in Surprise

Surprise 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 Surprise 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 Surprise

Communication Studies Degree in Surprise — 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 Surprise.

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