Communications Degree in Lincoln, NE — Salary & ROI 2026
Communications degree analysis for Lincoln, NE. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$39K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$60K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.5 yrs
in Lincoln
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Communications in Lincoln, NE Overview
Lincoln, Nebraska (pop. 291,082) has 9 colleges offering Communications programs. The local cost of living index of 85 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $867/month. Communications enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Public Speaking and Writing. The adjusted starting salary in Lincoln is approximately $39,100, growing to $59,500 by mid-career.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$9,242/yr
Private Tuition
$36,730/yr
Room & Board
$10,611/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,317/yr
Unemployment
5.9%
Graduation Rate
57%
Communications Salary in Lincoln (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lincoln's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Communications salary: $46,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $88,000 senior level.Lincoln adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Communications ROI Calculator for Lincoln
Estimate your return on investment for a Communications degree using local Lincoln tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,242 | Private avg: $36,730
Lincoln avg aid: $13,317/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,412
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,350
vs HS diploma in Lincoln
ROI Payback Period
8.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lincoln
$243,588
Lifetime earnings premium ($323,000) minus total education cost ($79,412)
Student Loan Payoff for Communications in Lincoln
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lincoln for Communications
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
public
$9,242/yr
$36,968 total
Nebraska Wesleyan University
private
$36,730/yr
$146,920 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Southeast Community College
$3,540/yr
Top Employers for Communications in Lincoln
Lincoln offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Communications graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lincoln Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Communications Job Titles
Communications in Nearby Nebraska Cities
Other Communications Majors in Lincoln
Communications Degree in Lincoln — 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 Lincoln.