by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Communication Management and Strategic Communications covers A Program That Focuses On The Critical Thinking, Analysis, And Practical Skills Essential To Developing And Implementing Communication Strategies That Advance Organizations Goals And Missions. Includes Instruction In Communication Management, Crisis Communication, Communications Law, Digital And Traditional Marketing Strategies, Media Relations, Social Media Strategies, Strategic Communication, Traditional And Emerging Media, And Writing For The Media. Continue reading for the important information every communication management and strategic communications student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering communication management and strategic communications programs.
In the U.S., communication management and strategic communications draws strong interest, with 1,956 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Communication Management and Strategic Communications Schools ranking analyzes these 55 schools to determine the best overall colleges for communication management and strategic communications students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of communication management and strategic communications programs later in this article.
Programs in Communication Management and Strategic Communications build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations communication management and strategic communications graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a communication management and strategic communications program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a communication management and strategic communications major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several communication management and strategic communications 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 317 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,172 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 455 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 12 |
People currently working in careers related to communication management and strategic communications tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 65.5% |
| Some college courses | 19.6% |
| Master’s degree | 10.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.9% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in communication management and strategic communications careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in communication management and strategic communications prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to communication management and strategic communications.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to communication management and strategic communications.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Fundraising Managers | 340,731 | -1.0% |
| Public Relations Managers | 337,124 | 7.0% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of communication management and strategic communications graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,317 |
| 4 years | $55,248 |
| 5 years | $64,495 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for communication management and strategic communications graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers communication management and strategic communications grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Public Relations Managers | $139,736 |
| Fundraising Managers | $90,350 |
With 55 different communication management and strategic communications programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased communication management and strategic communications school rankings to help you.
Students interested in communication management and strategic communications, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Advertising | 4,308 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 4,077 |
| Public Relations/Image Management | 4,061 |
| Organizational Communication, General | 1,789 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other | 1,296 |
| Sports Communication | 1,202 |
| Health Communication | 362 |
| Political Communication | 211 |
| Technical and Scientific Communication | 191 |
| International and Intercultural Communication | 183 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
