Communications Degree in Virginia Beach, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Communications degree analysis for Virginia Beach, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$40K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$62K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.6 yrs
in Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
88
index (100 = avg)
Communications in Virginia Beach, VA Overview
Virginia Beach, Virginia (pop. 459,470) has 13 colleges offering Communications programs. The local cost of living index of 88 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $975/month. Communications enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Public Speaking and Writing. The adjusted starting salary in Virginia Beach is approximately $40,480, growing to $61,600 by mid-career.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$11,210/yr
Private Tuition
$28,926/yr
Room & Board
$9,485/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,610/yr
Unemployment
3.2%
Graduation Rate
51%
Communications Salary in Virginia Beach (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Virginia Beach's cost of living index of 88 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Communications salary: $46,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $88,000 senior level.Virginia Beach adjustment factor: 0.88x based on the local cost of living index.
Communications ROI Calculator for Virginia Beach
Estimate your return on investment for a Communications degree using local Virginia Beach tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,210 | Private avg: $28,926
Virginia Beach avg aid: $12,610/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$82,780
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,680
vs HS diploma in Virginia Beach
ROI Payback Period
8.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Virginia Beach
$251,620
Lifetime earnings premium ($334,400) minus total education cost ($82,780)
Student Loan Payoff for Communications in Virginia Beach
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Virginia Beach for Communications
Regent University
private
$19,100/yr
$76,400 total
Virginia Wesleyan University
private
$38,752/yr
$155,008 total
Old Dominion University
public
$11,210/yr
$44,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tidewater Community College
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Communications in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Communications graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Virginia Beach Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Communications Job Titles
Communications in Nearby Virginia Cities
Chesapeake, VA
$42K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$66K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$43K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Richmond, VA
$46K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Newport News, VA
$43K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$47K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$45K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$41K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Virginia Beach
Communications Degree in Virginia Beach — 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 Virginia Beach.