Communications Degree in St. Paul, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Communications degree analysis for St. Paul, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$76K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8 yrs
in St. Paul
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
Communications in St. Paul, MN Overview
St. Paul, Minnesota (pop. 308,096) has 20 colleges offering Communications programs. The local cost of living index of 108 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $843/month. Communications enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Public Speaking and Writing. The adjusted starting salary in St. Paul is approximately $49,680, growing to $75,600 by mid-career.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$10,448/yr
Private Tuition
$52,990/yr
Room & Board
$13,408/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,005/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
70%
Communications Salary in St. Paul (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for St. Paul's cost of living index of 108 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Communications salary: $46,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $88,000 senior level.St. Paul adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Communications ROI Calculator for St. Paul
Estimate your return on investment for a Communications degree using local St. Paul tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,448 | Private avg: $52,990
St. Paul avg aid: $15,005/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,424
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$11,880
vs HS diploma in St. Paul
ROI Payback Period
8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in St. Paul
$314,976
Lifetime earnings premium ($410,400) minus total education cost ($95,424)
Student Loan Payoff for Communications in St. Paul
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in St. Paul for Communications
Hamline University
private
$45,776/yr
$183,104 total
Macalester College
private
$60,204/yr
$240,816 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Saint Paul College
$5,772/yr
Top Employers for Communications in St. Paul
St. Paul offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Communications graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key St. 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
Saint Paul, MN
$47K starting · COL 101.5
11 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 St. Paul
Communications Degree in St. 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 St. Paul.