Communications Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Study of effective messaging, media, and interpersonal communication.
Starting Salary
$46K
median
Mid-Career
$70K
salary
ROI Payback
5.2 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
4%
rate
Communications Overview
Study of effective messaging, media, and interpersonal communication.
Category
Communications
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
68%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
28%
Lifetime Premium
$380K
Female Graduates
62%
Communications Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$16,200
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$16,200
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$363,800
Lifetime earnings premium ($380,000) minus net degree cost ($16,200)
Communications Salary Progression
Common Communications Careers
Communications Specialist
Content Strategist
Social Media Manager
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Communications
#1
Northwestern
#2
USC
#3
NYU
#4
University of Texas
#5
Boston University
Related Majors
Communications Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Communications Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for communications programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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