Communications Degree in Saint Paul, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Communications degree analysis for Saint Paul, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$71K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
9.8 yrs
in Saint Paul
Cost of Living
101.5
index (100 = avg)
Communications in Saint Paul, MN Overview
Saint Paul, Minnesota (pop. 311,527) has 11 colleges offering Communications programs. The local cost of living index of 101.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $795/month. Communications enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Public Speaking and Writing. The adjusted starting salary in Saint Paul is approximately $46,690, growing to $71,050 by mid-career.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,171/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,478/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
47%
Communications Salary in Saint Paul (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Saint Paul's cost of living index of 101.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Communications salary: $46,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $88,000 senior level.Saint Paul adjustment factor: 1.01x based on the local cost of living index.
Communications ROI Calculator for Saint Paul
Estimate your return on investment for a Communications degree using local Saint Paul tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Saint Paul avg aid: $13,478/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$109,484
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$11,165
vs HS diploma in Saint Paul
ROI Payback Period
9.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Saint Paul
$276,216
Lifetime earnings premium ($385,700) minus total education cost ($109,484)
Student Loan Payoff for Communications in Saint Paul
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Saint Paul for Communications
Saint Paul State University
public
$13,811/yr
$55,244 total
University of Saint Paul
public
$13,351/yr
$53,404 total
Saint Paul Institute of Technology
private
$43,387/yr
$173,548 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Saint Paul Community College
$5,443/yr
Minnesota Technical College - Saint Paul
$5,156/yr
Top Employers for Communications in Saint Paul
Saint Paul offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Communications graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Saint Paul Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Communications Job Titles
Communications in Nearby Minnesota Cities
Minneapolis, MN
$45K starting · COL 97
15 colleges
St. Paul, MN
$50K starting · COL 108
20 colleges
Rochester, MN
$48K starting · COL 105
8 colleges
Duluth, MN
$46K starting · COL 100
5 colleges
Bloomington, MN
$46K starting · COL 100.2
4 colleges
Brooklyn Park, MN
$45K starting · COL 98.8
4 colleges
Plymouth, MN
$49K starting · COL 107.3
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$49K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Saint Paul
Communications Degree in Saint Paul — 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 Saint Paul.