Public Relations Degree in Milwaukee, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Public Relations degree analysis for Milwaukee, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$68K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Milwaukee
Cost of Living
94
index (100 = avg)
Public Relations in Milwaukee, WI Overview
Milwaukee is one of Wisconsin's top college towns, with 33 institutions and a student population of 59,419. Public tuition averages $9,782/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Public Relations enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Media Relations and Crisis Communication. The adjusted starting salary in Milwaukee is approximately $47,000.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
33
Public Tuition
$9,782/yr
Private Tuition
$45,550/yr
Room & Board
$11,342/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,008/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
63%
Public Relations Salary in Milwaukee (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Milwaukee's cost of living index of 94 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Public Relations salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $92,000 senior level.Milwaukee adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Public Relations ROI Calculator for Milwaukee
Estimate your return on investment for a Public Relations degree using local Milwaukee tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,782 | Private avg: $45,550
Milwaukee avg aid: $13,008/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$84,496
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,100
vs HS diploma in Milwaukee
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Milwaukee
$310,304
Lifetime earnings premium ($394,800) minus total education cost ($84,496)
Student Loan Payoff for Public Relations in Milwaukee
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Milwaukee for Public Relations
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
public
$9,782/yr
$39,128 total
Marquette University
private
$46,510/yr
$186,040 total
Milwaukee School of Engineering
private
$44,589/yr
$178,356 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Milwaukee Area Technical College
$4,620/yr
Top Employers for Public Relations in Milwaukee
Milwaukee offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Public Relations graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Milwaukee Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Public Relations Job Titles
Public Relations in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Madison, WI
$45K starting · COL 89
11 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 Milwaukee
Public Relations Degree in Milwaukee — 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 Milwaukee.