Mass Communication and Media Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Mass Communication and Media Studies equips students with a critical understanding of how media shapes societies, cultures, and individual experiences. This interdisciplinary field examines the structure, function, and impact of mass media across historical and contemporary contexts, preparing learners to analyze complex media systems with intellectual rigor.
- Media History: Traces the evolution of communication technologies and institutions from print to digital, highlighting pivotal shifts in information dissemination.
- Media Aesthetics and Criticism: Explores the formal and artistic dimensions of media texts, emphasizing interpretation, narrative structure, and visual language.
- Social and Cultural Effects of Mass Media: Investigates how media influences identity, norms, values, and collective behavior across diverse populations.
- Cultural Studies: Analyzes media as a site of cultural production, power, and resistance, focusing on representation, ideology, and audience reception.
- Communications Regulation, Law, and Policy: Covers legal frameworks governing media content, ownership, access, and freedom of expression in national and global contexts.
- Economics of Media Industries: Examines business models, market dynamics, and financial structures shaping media production, distribution, and consumption.
- Visual and Media Literacy: Develops the ability to critically interpret, evaluate, and create media messages in a digital and image-saturated world.
- Psychology of Media Messages: Studies cognitive and behavioral responses to media, including attention, perception, persuasion, and the impact of content on attitudes and actions.
Mass Communication and Media Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Mass Communication and Media Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Mass Communication and Media Studies degrees, including Public Relations Managers, Communications Teachers, Postsecondary and Editors. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 290,150 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Managers 11-2032 | $138,520 | $78,880 - $239,200 | 76,060 | $66.60 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1122 | $77,800 | $47,100 - $160,210 | 29,260 | N/A |
| Editors 27-3041 | $75,260 | $36,200 - $140,840 | 95,480 | $36.18 |
| Writers and Authors 27-3043 | $72,270 | $41,080 - $133,680 | 47,800 | $34.75 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists 27-3023 | $60,280 | $34,590 - $162,430 | 41,550 | $28.98 |
Mass Communication and Media Studies Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $51,887 in Wyoming to $115,158 in New York—a 122% difference. The highest-paying states include New York, District of Columbia, and California. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 290,150 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Mass Communication and Media Studies by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Mass Communication and Media Studies programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Mass Communication and Media Studies is found at University of Florida (UF) (380 graduates), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill (363 graduates), Indiana University (IUB), Bloomington (355 graduates), Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) (322 graduates), and University of California (UCB), Berkeley (258 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 7,173 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Florida (UF) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
380 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
363 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
355 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
322 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Bachelor's
|
258 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
227 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
204 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
159 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Bachelor's
|
142 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Bachelor's
|
139 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
139 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Pace University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
116 | New York, New York | Private | pace.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
114 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
109 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| North Carolina A & T State University (NC A&T) |
Bachelor's
|
108 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | ncat.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
100 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
97 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
93 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| DePaul University |
Bachelor's
|
91 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| University of West Florida (UWF) |
Bachelor's
|
88 | Pensacola, Florida | Public | uwf.edu |
| Sam Houston State University (SHSU) |
Bachelor's
|
86 | Huntsville, Texas | Public | shsu.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
84 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| University of Washington (UW Bothell) |
Bachelor's
|
83 | Bothell, Washington | Public | uwb.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
81 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) |
Bachelor's
|
80 | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Public | wcupa.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
80 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Bachelor's
|
79 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
78 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Bachelor's
|
75 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
74 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
73 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
71 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ (UCNJ) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
70 | Cranford, New Jersey | Public | ucc.edu |
| The New School |
Bachelor's
|
64 | New York, New York | Private | newschool.edu |
| East Tennessee State University (ETSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
64 | Johnson City, Tennessee | Public | etsu.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
63 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| Brown University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
63 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Research)
|
61 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Southern Illinois University (SIUE) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
59 | Edwardsville, Illinois | Public | siue.edu |
| Stephen F Austin State University (SFASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
59 | Nacogdoches, Texas | Public | sfasu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Bachelor's
|
56 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
55 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| CUNY Lehman College |
Bachelor's
|
54 | Bronx, New York | Public | lehman.edu |
| Denison University (DU) |
Bachelor's
|
54 | Granville, Ohio | Private | denison.edu |
| University of Washington (UW Tacoma) |
Bachelor's
|
51 | Tacoma, Washington | Public | tacoma.uw.edu |
| Muhlenberg College |
Bachelor's
|
50 | Allentown, Pennsylvania | Private | muhlenberg.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
50 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) |
Bachelor's
|
50 | Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | commonwealthu.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Quinnipiac University (QU) |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Hamden, Connecticut | Private | qu.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| University of South Dakota (USD) |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Vermillion, South Dakota | Public | usd.edu |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) |
Associate's
|
45 | New York, New York | Public | bmcc.cuny.edu |
| Virginia State University (VSU) |
Bachelor's
|
45 | Petersburg, Virginia | Public | vsu.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
44 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMBC) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
40 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umbc.edu |
| Winona State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Winona, Minnesota | Public | winona.edu |
| North Carolina Central University (NCCU) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Durham, North Carolina | Public | nccu.edu |
| Valdosta State University (VSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
39 | Valdosta, Georgia | Public | valdosta.edu |
| Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
39 | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Public | stcloudstate.edu |
| Trinity University |
Bachelor's
|
39 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | new.trinity.edu |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges (HWS) |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Geneva, New York | Private | hws.edu |
| Iona University |
Bachelor's
|
38 | New Rochelle, New York | Private | iona.edu |
| SUNY Oneonta |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Oneonta, New York | Public | suny.oneonta.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
36 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
36 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| University of North Alabama (UNA) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Florence, Alabama | Public | una.edu |
| Southern University and A & M College (SUBR) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | subr.edu |
| Austin Peay State University (APSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
35 | Clarksville, Tennessee | Public | apsu.edu |
| Jackson State University (JSU) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Jackson, Mississippi | Public | jsums.edu |
| University of North Carolina (UNCP) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Pembroke, North Carolina | Public | uncp.edu |
| University of San Francisco (USF) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | San Francisco, California | Private | usfca.edu |
| Delaware State University (DSU) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Dover, Delaware | Public | desu.edu |
| Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Public | wssu.edu |
| Marist College |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | marist.edu |
| Elon University |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Elon, North Carolina | Private | elon.edu |
| Ursinus College (Ursinus) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Collegeville, Pennsylvania | Private | ursinus.edu |
| University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Asheville, North Carolina | Public | unca.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| Bethune-Cookman University (B‑CU) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Private | cookman.edu |
| Southeastern University (SEU) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Lakeland, Florida | Private | seu.edu |
| Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) |
Associate's
|
27 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | ccp.edu |
| Utah Tech University (UT) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
27 | Saint George, Utah | Public | utahtech.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Stevens Point, Wisconsin | Public | uwsp.edu |
| Colorado Mesa University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
26 | Grand Junction, Colorado | Public | coloradomesa.edu |
| Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | New Britain, Connecticut | Public | ccsu.edu |
| Albany State University (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Albany, Georgia | Public | asurams.edu |
| Washburn University (WU) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Topeka, Kansas | Public | washburn.edu |
| Grambling State University (GSU) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Grambling, Louisiana | Public | gram.edu |
| McNeese State University |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Public | mcneese.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Tyler, Texas | Public | uttyler.edu |
| California State University (CSUSM) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | San Marcos, California | Public | csusm.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Research)
|
24 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Full Sail University |
Other Award
|
22 | Winter Park, Florida | Private | fullsail.edu |
| SUNY |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Purchase, New York | Public | purchase.edu |
| Winthrop University |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Rock Hill, South Carolina | Public | winthrop.edu |
| Florida State College (FSCJ) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | fscj.edu |
| University of Louisiana (UL Lafayette) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Public | louisiana.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Mass Communication and Media Studies programs
How much can I earn with a Mass Communication and Media Studies degree?
Salaries for Mass Communication and Media Studies graduates vary by role and location. Public Relations Managers earn a median of $138,520 annually, while Communications Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $77,800. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in New York average $115,158 compared to $51,887 in Wyoming. Approximately 290,150 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Mass Communication and Media Studies programs?
Currently 314 accredited institutions offer Mass Communication and Media Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Florida (UF) (380 graduates), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill (363 graduates), and Indiana University (IUB), Bloomington (355 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Mass Communication and Media Studies growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 9,929 in 2010 to a peak of 10,959 in 2020, before declining slightly to 8,694 in 2023-24. This represents a 12% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Mass Communication and Media Studies degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Public Relations Managers, Communications Teachers, Postsecondary, and Editors. Related occupations employ approximately 290,150 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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