by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 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. Read on to learn the important information every communication & media studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering communication & media studies programs.
Across the country, communication & media studies is a popular field of study, with 55,210 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 1,276 schools to determine the best overall colleges for communication & media studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of communication & media studies programs later in this article.
Coursework for Communication & Media Studies emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations communication & media studies graduates commonly enter.
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.
Skills emphasized by a communication & media studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a communication & media studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several communication & media studies 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 | 94 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5,252 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 43,557 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5,769 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 538 |
People currently working in careers related to communication & media studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in communication & media studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
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.
Studying communication & media studies can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to communication & media studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to communication & media studies.
| 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% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of communication & media studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,014 |
| 4 years | $49,526 |
| 5 years | $57,312 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for communication & media studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers communication & media studies grads often go into.
| 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 |
With 1,276 different communication & media studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased communication & media studies school rankings to help you.
Those considering communication & media studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 32,944 |
| Communication, General | 11,299 |
| Mass Communication/Media Studies | 8,694 |
| Communication and Media Studies, Other | 2,273 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| 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.
