Communications Degree in Mesa, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Communications degree analysis for Mesa, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$77K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.4 yrs
in Mesa
Cost of Living
110
index (100 = avg)
Communications in Mesa, AZ Overview
Mesa is one of Arizona's top college towns, with 31 institutions and a student population of 36,638. Public tuition averages $12,467/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 Mesa is approximately $50,600, growing to $77,000 by mid-career.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
31
Public Tuition
$12,467/yr
Private Tuition
$36,100/yr
Room & Board
$13,027/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,459/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
54%
Communications Salary in Mesa (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Mesa's cost of living index of 110 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Communications salary: $46,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $88,000 senior level.Mesa adjustment factor: 1.10x based on the local cost of living index.
Communications ROI Calculator for Mesa
Estimate your return on investment for a Communications degree using local Mesa tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,467 | Private avg: $36,100
Mesa avg aid: $15,459/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$101,976
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,100
vs HS diploma in Mesa
ROI Payback Period
8.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Mesa
$316,024
Lifetime earnings premium ($418,000) minus total education cost ($101,976)
Student Loan Payoff for Communications in Mesa
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Mesa for Communications
Arizona State University Polytechnic
public
$12,467/yr
$49,868 total
A.T. Still University
private
$42,500/yr
$170,000 total
Benedictine University Mesa
private
$29,700/yr
$118,800 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Mesa Community College
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Communications in Mesa
Mesa offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Communications graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Mesa Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Communications Job Titles
Communications in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$70K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$53K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$57K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$55K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$48K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$58K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$48K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Tempe, AZ
$52K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Mesa
Communications Degree in Mesa — 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 Mesa.