by our College Data Analytics TeamMajoring in the field of Communication and Journalism will equip students with all types of knowledge on how to communicate with the general public through a plethora of media outlets. You will have the opportunity to take classes ranging from speech writing to design and layout while learning how to improve your writing and verbal communication skills.
There are many options when it comes to choosing your major within this field. Communications and Media Studies gives you the opportunity to study communications at broad level and understand all types of media. If you are passionate about reporting news stories to the public you may choose to go into Journalism. Or if you are interested in building a reputation or brand for clients Public Relations and Advertising may be a good choice. You also have the option to focus on Radio, Television, and Digital Communication to learn skills to design, develop, and manage types of digital media or major in Publishing and focus on layout and design. No matter what major you decide to focus on, a degree in communication and journalism will enhance your writing and verbal communication skills, making you a great candidate for any type of employment.
Studying Communication & Journalism involves the study of Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs. Instructional Programs That Focus On How Messages In Various Media Are Produced, Used, And Interpreted Within And Across Different Contexts, Channels, And Cultures, And That Prepare Individuals To Apply Communication Knowledge And Skills Professionally. Continue reading for the important information every communication & journalism major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering communication & journalism programs.
Nationwide, communication & journalism is a widely-pursued major, with 105,413 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Communication & Journalism Schools ranking analyzes these 1,574 schools to determine the best overall colleges for communication & journalism students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of communication & journalism programs later in this article.
Studies in Communication & Journalism emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations communication & journalism graduates commonly enter.
Those going into the communications field should enjoy communicating through the written word as well as through interaction with people. A career in this field will require constant meetings with clients, other communications professionals, and members of the media. Communications professionals are often in fast paced careers, making the skills to balance multiple projects a necessity. This field of study is also best suited for students who are detail oriented and enjoy problem solving and investigation.
Typically, most careers in the communications and journalism fields are full time, but don't stick to the 40-hour workweek. New stories may cause journalists to work at odd hours while long projects or deadlines will force communications specialists to work in evenings and on the weekend.
Skills built by a communication & journalism program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a communication & journalism major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several communication & journalism degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,059 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 7,940 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 79,426 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 16,227 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 699 |
People currently working in careers related to communication & journalism tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 43.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 27.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 9.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.1% |
| Some college courses | 4.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in communication & journalism careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in the communications and journalism field opens a wide array of career options to graduates. You may decide to work in a public relations firm, at a publishing house, as a representative for a major corporation, as a speechwriter, or work as a consultant. No matter what career path you choose, you can be confident that your degree in communication and journalism will give you the skills to work and advance within any organization.
Studying communication & journalism opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to communication & journalism.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to communication & journalism.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 919,494 | -1.5% |
| Training and Development Specialists | 622,945 | 11.3% |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | 509,308 | 13.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Human Resources Managers | 404,262 | -3.6% |
| Technical Writers | 396,969 | 6.9% |
| Training and Development Managers | 394,938 | -0.4% |
| Producers and Directors | 355,369 | -3.9% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of communication & journalism graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,593 |
| 4 years | $49,370 |
| 5 years | $57,299 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for communication & journalism graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers communication & journalism grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Public Relations Managers | $139,736 |
| Training and Development Managers | $139,524 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Fundraisers | $118,069 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $113,521 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $108,419 |
With 1,574 different communication & journalism programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased communication & journalism school rankings to help you.
Students interested in communication & journalism, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Communication, General | 55,210 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 19,636 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 17,813 |
| Journalism | 11,334 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | 1,080 |
| Publishing | 340 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
