Communications Degree in Little Rock, AR — Salary & ROI 2026
Communications degree analysis for Little Rock, AR. 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
9.9 yrs
in Little Rock
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Communications in Little Rock, AR Overview
Little Rock is one of Arkansas's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 18,659. Public tuition averages $9,312/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Communications enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Public Speaking and Writing. The adjusted starting salary in Little Rock is approximately $39,100, growing to $59,500 by mid-career.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$9,312/yr
Private Tuition
$13,320/yr
Room & Board
$13,863/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,402/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
Communications Salary in Little Rock (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Little Rock'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.Little Rock adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Communications ROI Calculator for Little Rock
Estimate your return on investment for a Communications degree using local Little Rock tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,312 | Private avg: $13,320
Little Rock avg aid: $15,402/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,700
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,350
vs HS diploma in Little Rock
ROI Payback Period
9.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Little Rock
$230,300
Lifetime earnings premium ($323,000) minus total education cost ($92,700)
Student Loan Payoff for Communications in Little Rock
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Little Rock for Communications
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
public
$9,312/yr
$37,248 total
Philander Smith University
private
$13,320/yr
$53,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pulaski Technical College
$3,800/yr
Top Employers for Communications in Little Rock
Little Rock offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Communications graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Little Rock Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Communications Job Titles
Communications in Nearby Arkansas Cities
Fayetteville, AR
$41K starting · COL 89
4 colleges
Fort Smith, AR
$36K starting · COL 78.5
4 colleges
Springdale, AR
$39K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Jonesboro, AR
$38K starting · COL 82.5
4 colleges
Rogers, AR
$41K starting · COL 88.2
3 colleges
Conway, AR
$39K starting · COL 84.5
3 colleges
North Little Rock, AR
$40K starting · COL 86.6
3 colleges
Bentonville, AR
$43K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Little Rock
Communications Degree in Little Rock — 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 Little Rock.