Communications Degree in Madison, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Communications degree analysis for Madison, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$62K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
9.3 yrs
in Madison
Cost of Living
89
index (100 = avg)
Communications in Madison, WI Overview
Madison, Wisconsin (pop. 269,840) has 11 colleges offering Communications programs. The local cost of living index of 89 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $902/month. Communications enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Public Speaking and Writing. The adjusted starting salary in Madison is approximately $40,940, growing to $62,300 by mid-career.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$10,725/yr
Private Tuition
$33,350/yr
Room & Board
$11,942/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,815/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
73%
Communications Salary in Madison (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Madison's cost of living index of 89 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Communications salary: $46,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $88,000 senior level.Madison adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Communications ROI Calculator for Madison
Estimate your return on investment for a Communications degree using local Madison tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,725 | Private avg: $33,350
Madison avg aid: $15,815/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,668
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,790
vs HS diploma in Madison
ROI Payback Period
9.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Madison
$247,532
Lifetime earnings premium ($338,200) minus total education cost ($90,668)
Student Loan Payoff for Communications in Madison
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Madison for Communications
University of Wisconsin-Madison
public
$10,725/yr
$42,900 total
Edgewood College
private
$33,350/yr
$133,400 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Madison Area Technical College
$4,632/yr
Top Employers for Communications in Madison
Madison offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Communications graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Madison Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Communications Job Titles
Communications in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$43K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$40K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$49K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Racine, WI
$39K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Appleton, WI
$36K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$42K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$40K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$49K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Madison
Communications Degree in Madison — 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 Madison.