Communications Degree in Salt Lake City, UT — Salary & ROI 2026
Communications degree analysis for Salt Lake City, UT. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$78K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.8 yrs
in Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
112
index (100 = avg)
Communications in Salt Lake City, UT Overview
While Salt Lake City has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Communications students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $17,800/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 Salt Lake City is approximately $51,520, growing to $78,400 by mid-career.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$9,222/yr
Private Tuition
$38,396/yr
Room & Board
$17,800/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,636/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
52%
Communications Salary in Salt Lake City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Salt Lake City's cost of living index of 112 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Communications salary: $46,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $88,000 senior level.Salt Lake City adjustment factor: 1.12x based on the local cost of living index.
Communications ROI Calculator for Salt Lake City
Estimate your return on investment for a Communications degree using local Salt Lake City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,222 | Private avg: $38,396
Salt Lake City avg aid: $10,636/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$108,088
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,320
vs HS diploma in Salt Lake City
ROI Payback Period
8.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Salt Lake City
$317,512
Lifetime earnings premium ($425,600) minus total education cost ($108,088)
Student Loan Payoff for Communications in Salt Lake City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Salt Lake City for Communications
University of Utah
public
$9,222/yr
$36,888 total
Westminster University
private
$38,396/yr
$153,584 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Salt Lake Community College
$4,116/yr
Top Employers for Communications in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Communications graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Salt Lake City Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Communications Job Titles
Communications in Nearby Utah Cities
West Valley City, UT
$45K starting · COL 98.5
6 colleges
West Jordan, UT
$46K starting · COL 99.8
5 colleges
Provo, UT
$60K starting · COL 130
7 colleges
Orem, UT
$56K starting · COL 122
4 colleges
Sandy, UT
$48K starting · COL 103.8
4 colleges
St. George, UT
$58K starting · COL 125
2 colleges
Ogden, UT
$47K starting · COL 103
5 colleges
Layton, UT
$45K starting · COL 97.8
4 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Salt Lake City
Communications Degree in Salt Lake City — 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 Salt Lake City.