Communications Degree in Los Angeles, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Communications degree analysis for Los Angeles, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$65K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$99K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.2 yrs
in Los Angeles
Cost of Living
141
index (100 = avg)
Communications in Los Angeles, CA Overview
Los Angeles is one of California's top college towns, with 69 institutions and a student population of 322,771. Public tuition averages $13,804/year here — near the national average for public universities. Communications enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Public Speaking and Writing. The adjusted starting salary in Los Angeles is approximately $64,860, growing to $98,700 by mid-career.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
69
Public Tuition
$13,804/yr
Private Tuition
$59,151/yr
Room & Board
$17,998/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,255/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
47%
Communications Salary in Los Angeles (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Los Angeles's cost of living index of 141 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Communications salary: $46,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $88,000 senior level.Los Angeles adjustment factor: 1.41x based on the local cost of living index.
Communications ROI Calculator for Los Angeles
Estimate your return on investment for a Communications degree using local Los Angeles tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,804 | Private avg: $59,151
Los Angeles avg aid: $8,255/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$127,208
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,510
vs HS diploma in Los Angeles
ROI Payback Period
8.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Los Angeles
$408,592
Lifetime earnings premium ($535,800) minus total education cost ($127,208)
Student Loan Payoff for Communications in Los Angeles
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Los Angeles for Communications
UCLA
public
$13,804/yr
$55,216 total
USC
private
$63,468/yr
$253,872 total
Loyola Marymount University
private
$54,834/yr
$219,336 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Los Angeles City College
$1,540/yr
Santa Monica College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Communications in Los Angeles
Los Angeles offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Communications graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Los Angeles Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Communications Job Titles
Communications in Nearby California Cities
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
Long Beach, CA
$53K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$61K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Bakersfield, CA
$62K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Los Angeles
Communications Degree in Los Angeles — 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 Los Angeles.