Communications Degree in Lawrence, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Communications degree analysis for Lawrence, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$76K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.4 yrs
in Lawrence
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
Communications in Lawrence, KS Overview
While Lawrence has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Communications students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,971/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Communications enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Public Speaking and Writing. The adjusted starting salary in Lawrence is approximately $49,680, growing to $75,600 by mid-career.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$5,898/yr
Private Tuition
$33,400/yr
Room & Board
$12,971/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,187/yr
Unemployment
6.5%
Graduation Rate
53%
Communications Salary in Lawrence (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lawrence's cost of living index of 108 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Communications salary: $46,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $88,000 senior level.Lawrence adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Communications ROI Calculator for Lawrence
Estimate your return on investment for a Communications degree using local Lawrence tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $5,898 | Private avg: $33,400
Lawrence avg aid: $12,187/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$75,476
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$11,880
vs HS diploma in Lawrence
ROI Payback Period
6.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lawrence
$334,924
Lifetime earnings premium ($410,400) minus total education cost ($75,476)
Student Loan Payoff for Communications in Lawrence
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lawrence for Communications
University of Kansas
public
$11,166/yr
$44,664 total
Haskell Indian Nations University
public
$630/yr
$2,520 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Johnson County Community College
$3,564/yr
Top Employers for Communications in Lawrence
Lawrence offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Communications graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lawrence Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Communications Job Titles
Communications in Nearby Kansas Cities
Wichita, KS
$48K starting · COL 104
20 colleges
Overland Park, KS
$47K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Kansas City, KS
$38K starting · COL 82.5
6 colleges
Olathe, KS
$45K starting · COL 96.8
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$39K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$40K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$44K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$44K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Lawrence
Communications Degree in Lawrence — 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 Communications ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Lawrence.