by our College Data Analytics TeamWe've pulled together some essential information you should know about the program, including how many students graduate each year, the ethnic diversity of these students, average starting salaries, and more. Also, learn how WMU ranks among other schools offering degrees in communications.
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The bachelor's program at WMU was ranked #244 on College Factual's Best Schools for communications list. It is also ranked #8 in Michigan.
During the 2021-2022 academic year, Western Michigan University handed out 39 bachelor's degrees in communication & media studies. This is a decrease of 40% over the previous year when 65 degrees were handed out.
In 2022, 11 students received their master’s degree in communications from WMU. This makes it the #101 most popular school for communications master’s degree candidates in the country.
The median salary of communications students who receive their bachelor's degree at WMU is $31,169. Unfortunately, this is lower than the national average of $34,959 for all communications students.
While getting their bachelor's degree at WMU, communications students borrow a median amount of $40,275 in student loans. This is higher than the the typical median of $27,493 for all communications majors across the country.
In 2022-2023, the average part-time undergraduate tuition at WMU was $792 per credit hour for out-of-state students. The average for in-state students was $633 per credit hour. The average full-time tuition and fees for undergraduates are shown in the table below.
| In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $15,198 | $18,998 |
| Fees | $100 | $100 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,128 | $1,128 |
| On Campus Room and Board | $11,713 | $11,713 |
| On Campus Other Expenses | $2,631 | $2,631 |
Learn more about WMU tuition and fees.
During the 2021-2022 academic year, 39 communications majors earned their bachelor's degree from WMU. Of these graduates, 23% were men and 77% were women.
The majority of the students with this major are white. About 74% of 2022 graduates were in this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor's in communications.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 1 |
| Black or African American | 5 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3 |
| White | 29 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 1 |
| Other Races | 0 |
Online degrees for the WMU communications bachelor’s degree program are not available at this time. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the WMU Online Learning page.
In the 2021-2022 academic year, 9 students earned a master's degree in communications from WMU. About 78% of these graduates were women and the other 22% were men.
The majority of master's degree recipients in this major at WMU are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 56% of students fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Western Michigan University with a master's in communications.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 0 |
| Black or African American | 2 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2 |
| White | 5 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 0 |
| Other Races | 0 |
Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the communications majors at Western Michigan University.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Relations & Advertising | 66 |
| Radio, Television & Digital Communication | 12 |
| Journalism | 2 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.