Communications Degree in Medford, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Communications degree analysis for Medford, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$78K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.3 yrs
in Medford
Cost of Living
111
index (100 = avg)
Communications in Medford, OR Overview
While Medford has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Communications students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $14,881/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Communications enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Public Speaking and Writing. The adjusted starting salary in Medford is approximately $51,060, growing to $77,700 by mid-career.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,326/yr
Private Tuition
$41,865/yr
Room & Board
$14,881/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,464/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
67%
Communications Salary in Medford (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Medford's cost of living index of 111 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Communications salary: $46,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $88,000 senior level.Medford adjustment factor: 1.11x based on the local cost of living index.
Communications ROI Calculator for Medford
Estimate your return on investment for a Communications degree using local Medford tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,326 | Private avg: $41,865
Medford avg aid: $14,464/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$100,828
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,210
vs HS diploma in Medford
ROI Payback Period
8.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Medford
$320,972
Lifetime earnings premium ($421,800) minus total education cost ($100,828)
Student Loan Payoff for Communications in Medford
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Medford for Communications
Southern Oregon University
public
$10,326/yr
$41,304 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Rogue Community College
$4,536/yr
Top Employers for Communications in Medford
Medford offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Communications graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Medford Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Communications Job Titles
Communications in Nearby Oregon Cities
Portland, OR
$52K starting · COL 112
24 colleges
Eugene, OR
$60K starting · COL 130
14 colleges
Salem, OR
$55K starting · COL 120
14 colleges
Gresham, OR
$51K starting · COL 110.2
5 colleges
Hillsboro, OR
$53K starting · COL 115.5
5 colleges
Bend, OR
$49K starting · COL 107
2 colleges
Beaverton, OR
$49K starting · COL 105.9
4 colleges
Springfield, OR
$55K starting · COL 120.3
3 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Medford
Communications Degree in Medford — 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 Medford.