Communications Degree in Long Beach, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Communications degree analysis for Long Beach, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$81K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Long Beach
Cost of Living
116
index (100 = avg)
Communications in Long Beach, CA Overview
Long Beach, California (pop. 466,742) has 14 colleges offering Communications programs. The local cost of living index of 116 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,546/month. Communications enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Public Speaking and Writing. The adjusted starting salary in Long Beach is approximately $53,360, growing to $81,200 by mid-career.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$4,169/yr
Private Tuition
$9,960/yr
Room & Board
$17,446/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,553/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
60%
Communications Salary in Long Beach (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Long Beach's cost of living index of 116 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Communications salary: $46,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $88,000 senior level.Long Beach adjustment factor: 1.16x based on the local cost of living index.
Communications ROI Calculator for Long Beach
Estimate your return on investment for a Communications degree using local Long Beach tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $4,169 | Private avg: $9,960
Long Beach avg aid: $15,553/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,460
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,760
vs HS diploma in Long Beach
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Long Beach
$354,340
Lifetime earnings premium ($440,800) minus total education cost ($86,460)
Student Loan Payoff for Communications in Long Beach
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Long Beach for Communications
California State University, Long Beach
public
$6,798/yr
$27,192 total
Long Beach City College
public
$1,540/yr
$6,160 total
Pacific Coast University School of Law
private
$9,960/yr
$39,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Long Beach City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Communications in Long Beach
Long Beach offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Communications graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Long Beach Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Communications Job Titles
Communications in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$65K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$64K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$59K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$52K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$54K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$52K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Oakland, CA
$61K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Bakersfield, CA
$62K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Long Beach
Communications Degree in Long Beach — 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 Long Beach.