Public Relations Degree in Madison, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Public Relations degree analysis for Madison, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$64K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Madison
Cost of Living
89
index (100 = avg)
Public Relations in Madison, WI Overview
Madison, Wisconsin (pop. 269,840) has 11 colleges offering Public Relations programs. The local cost of living index of 89 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $902/month. Public Relations enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Media Relations and Crisis Communication. The adjusted starting salary in Madison is approximately $44,500.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$10,725/yr
Private Tuition
$33,350/yr
Room & Board
$11,942/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,815/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
73%
Public Relations Salary in Madison (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Madison's cost of living index of 89 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Public Relations salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $92,000 senior level.Madison adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Public Relations ROI Calculator for Madison
Estimate your return on investment for a Public Relations degree using local Madison tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,725 | Private avg: $33,350
Madison avg aid: $15,815/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,668
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,350
vs HS diploma in Madison
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Madison
$283,132
Lifetime earnings premium ($373,800) minus total education cost ($90,668)
Student Loan Payoff for Public Relations in Madison
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Madison for Public Relations
University of Wisconsin-Madison
public
$10,725/yr
$42,900 total
Edgewood College
private
$33,350/yr
$133,400 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Madison Area Technical College
$4,632/yr
Top Employers for Public Relations in Madison
Madison offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Public Relations graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Madison Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Public Relations Job Titles
Public Relations in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$47K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$43K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$53K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Racine, WI
$43K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Appleton, WI
$40K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$45K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$43K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$54K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Madison
Public Relations Degree in Madison — 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 Public Relations ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Madison.