by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying General Organizational Communication explores Organizational Communication, General. A Program That Focuses On General Communication Processes And Dynamics Within Organizations. Includes Instruction In The Development And Maintenance Of Interpersonal Group Relations Within Organizations; Decision-Making And Conflict Management; The Use Of Symbols To Create And Maintain Organizational Images, Missions, And Values; Power And Politics Within Organizations; Human Interaction With Computer Technology; And How Communications Socializes And Supports Employees And Team Members. Read on to learn the essential details every general organizational communication major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general organizational communication programs.
Nationwide, general organizational communication draws strong interest, with 1,789 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Organizational Communication Schools ranking analyzes these 78 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general organizational communication students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general organizational communication programs later in this article.
Studies in General Organizational Communication build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general organizational communication graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a general organizational communication program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a general organizational communication major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general organizational communication 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 | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,287 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 498 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
People currently working in careers related to general organizational communication tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 77.4% |
| Master’s degree | 7.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.5% |
| Some college courses | 1.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.4% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general organizational communication careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in general organizational communication can lead to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to general organizational communication.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general organizational communication.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Training and Development Specialists | 622,945 | 11.3% |
| Human Resources Managers | 404,262 | -3.6% |
| Training and Development Managers | 394,938 | -0.4% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of general organizational communication 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 general organizational communication graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general organizational communication grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Training and Development Managers | $139,524 |
| Human Resources Managers | $95,702 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $63,210 |
With 78 different general organizational communication programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general organizational communication school rankings to help you.
Students interested in general organizational communication, 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 |
| Communication Management and Strategic Communications | 1,956 |
| 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.
