Bright outlook
Management
Public Relations Managers
- Median pay
- $146,910
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
ProgramsCommunication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Communication and Media Studies
CIP09.01
1,075 colleges offer Communication and Media Studies. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 1,075
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $53,825
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $20,255
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 146
- Associate's
- 306
- Bachelor's
- 1,075
- Master's
- 303
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 9
- Doctoral
- 80
- First professional
- 1
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 69
What it covers
About Communication and Media Studies
A program that focuses on the comprehensive study of communication, and that spans the study of mass communication/media studies, old and new media technologies, social and political applications, and speech communication and rhetoric. Includes instruction in interpersonal, group, organizational, and intercultural communication; theories of communication; critical thinking, argumentation, and persuasion; written communication; printed, electronic, and digital media; rhetorical tradition and criticism; media, society, and culture; consequences and effects of mass media; media social science and criticism; and quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 09.01.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 09.01.
- Communication, General
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric
- Mass Communication/Media Studies
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 146 | $47,2964 yrs after · 5 colleges | $16,1256 colleges |
| Associate's | 306 | $44,2694 yrs after · 51 colleges | $10,1976 colleges |
| Bachelor's | 1,075 | $53,8254 yrs after · 623 colleges | $20,255496 colleges |
| Master's | 303 | $70,5344 yrs after · 57 colleges | $33,08532 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 9 | $68,6134 yrs after · 1 college | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 80 | $79,0994 yrs after · 4 colleges | $138,5001 college |
| First professional | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 69 | $98,0374 yrs after · 2 colleges | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Communication and Media Studies graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · 66 graduates
$114,266
debt not reported
- 2
Northwestern University-Illinois
Evanston, IL · Private nonprofit · 77 graduates
$93,541
debt $19,500
- 3
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit · 78 graduates
$88,463
debt $10,000
- 4
Santa Clara, CA · Private nonprofit · 120 graduates
$84,206
debt $19,000
- 5
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofit · 175 graduates
$83,586
debt $18,967
- 6
Villanova, PA · Private nonprofit · 157 graduates
$81,497
debt $21,500
- 7
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · 51 graduates
$80,306
debt $17,750
- 8
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · 114 graduates
$80,191
debt $23,245
- 9
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · Public · 233 graduates
$79,648
debt $19,500
- 10
Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 23 graduates
$79,112
debt not reported
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Communication and Media Studies by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Fundraising Managers
- Median pay
- $125,470
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Listening
Education
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $78,580
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
Arts, design and media
Editors
- Median pay
- $77,920
- Outlook
- Decline
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Listening
Arts, design and media
Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
- Median pay
- $76,910
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
Arts, design and media
Writers and Authors
- Median pay
- $76,910
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
Arts, design and media
Public Relations Specialists
- Median pay
- $74,750
- Outlook
- Slower than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
Arts, design and media
Media and Communication Workers, All Other
- Median pay
- $73,620
- Outlook
- As fast as average
High school diploma
More in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Communication and Media Studies
How many colleges offer Communication and Media Studies?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Communication and Media Studies at these degree levels: certificate (146 colleges), associate's (306 colleges), bachelor's (1,075 colleges), master's (303 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (9 colleges), doctoral (80 colleges), first professional (1 college), graduate/professional certificate (69 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Communication and Media Studies graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Communication and Media Studies earn $53,825 a year four years after finishing, across 623 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Communication and Media Studies graduates earn the most?
University of Pennsylvania reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Communication and Media Studies: $114,266 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.