by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,260 U.S. colleges awarded 55,601 degrees and certificates in Communication & Media Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 79% of graduates. College Factual ranks 800 schools in its 2027 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $37,697 one year after completing, rising to $58,170 after four years.
In most places in the world, you can't go a day without running into some form of communication, whether it's the Internet, television, or radio. If you want to learn more about how communication channels broadcast the views of our culture and directly impact our opinions and perceptions, consider a major in Communication and Media Studies.
With a degree in Communication and Media Studies, you will be able to analyze different media channels, explore how media impacts culture, and even have the opportunity to create your own media broadcasts. Classes such as communication and mass media research, mass media and popular culture, media criticism, and media law and ethics will introduce you to the world of communications and teach how to analyze and express messages.
While there is the option to major in the general topic of Communication and Media Studies, some students choose to specialize in areas, such as Speech Communication and Rhetoric or Mass Communication/Media Studies.
Studying Communication & Media Studies explores Communication And Media Studies.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, communication & media studies is a popular field of study, with 55,601 degrees awarded annually. 1,260 colleges award communication & media studies degrees, an average of 44 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 730.
By level, the 55,601 awards include 62 certificates, 5,115 associate degrees, 43,773 bachelor’s degrees, 6,164 master’s degrees and 487 doctorates.
Women earned 65% of communication & media studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (36,013 of 55,601). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (29,353) and Hispanic or Latino (10,544), and international students earned 2,596.
College Factual ranks 800 schools in its 2027 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking, including 134 for associate degrees, 651 for bachelor’s degrees, 106 for master’s degrees and 16 for doctorates. It also ranks communication & media studies schools within 50 states. In all, 1,260 colleges offer communication & media studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common communication & media studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 43,773 of the 55,601 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to communication & media studies call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Writing, and for knowledge of English Language, Communications and Media and Computers and Electronics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Strong writing and interpersonal skills are mandatory for a career in communications. Professionals spend their days working to communicate messages to the general public, making it necessary to be clear and concise. This is a great career for people who enjoy multi-tasking and have a good sense of social perceptiveness and media interest. When working in the field you may experience times when irregular or extended hours may be necessary. Tight deadlines and large projects can lead to late nights or weekend hours.
A career in communications is experience based, making internships critical. These opportunities allow professionals to introduce you to the world of communications and give you the opportunity to perform basic tasks. The combination of internships and knowledge gained while working towards a degree prepares graduates for a successful career.
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How long a communication & media studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 62 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5,115 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 43,773 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6,164 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 487 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to communication & media studies, at 40.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 40.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 9.1% |
| Some college courses | 8.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 0.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
11 occupations are related to Communication & Media Studies, with an average median salary of $93,993; the strongest outlook belongs to Fundraisers, at 12.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Communication Skills Instructor, Communication Arts Lecturer, Communications Instructor and Journalist Professor.
There are many career options for those who major in Communications and Media. Graduates will be equipped with excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, making them an asset to many companies. Some careers that graduates choose to go into include advertising, copy writing, marketing, publicity, social media consulting, public relations, and telecasting. Students may also choose to work for themselves or do consulting or contract work.
Communications is growing at a very quick rate and job opportunities are excellent for recent graduates. However, this is also a very popular field to be in, and competition in certain areas can be high. Since communications careers are experience based, the longer graduates are in the field, the more opportunity there is for advancement.
The occupation related to communication & media studies with the most projected jobs is Communications Teachers, Postsecondary, at 919,494.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 919,494 | -1.5% |
| Fundraising Managers | 340,731 | -1.0% |
| Fundraisers | 340,575 | 12.6% |
| Public Relations Managers | 337,124 | 7.0% |
| Public Relations Specialists | 288,926 | -3.5% |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | 175,767 | 9.1% |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | 164,697 | 10.8% |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | 160,960 | 8.2% |
Communication & Media Studies graduates earn a median $37,697 one year after completing their program, $58,170 after four years and $57,092 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,697 |
| 4 years | $58,170 |
| 5 years | $57,092 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to communication & media studies is Public Relations Managers, with a median salary of $139,736.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Public Relations Managers | $139,736 |
| Fundraisers | $118,069 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $108,419 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $103,749 |
| Editors | $100,346 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,169 |
| Fundraising Managers | $90,350 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $74,101 |
Communication & Media Studies includes 4 concentrations that together award 55,601 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Speech Communication and Rhetoric (32,124), Communication, General (11,910) and Mass Communication/Media Studies (9,042). It has 5 similar majors in the Communication & Journalism field, which together award 52,882 degrees a year; the largest are Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (20,547), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (19,210) and Journalism (11,474). Browse all Communication & Journalism majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 32,124 |
| Communication, General | 11,910 |
| Mass Communication/Media Studies | 9,042 |
| Communication and Media Studies, Other | 2,525 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 20,547 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 19,210 |
| Journalism | 11,474 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | 1,269 |
| Publishing | 382 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
