Communication and Media Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Communication and Media Studies is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding how messages are created, transmitted, received, and interpreted across diverse platforms and cultural contexts. This program equips students with critical analytical skills and practical knowledge to navigate the evolving landscape of digital and traditional media.
- Media Theory and Criticism: Explores foundational and contemporary frameworks for analyzing media content, including the social, political, and economic forces shaping media production and consumption.
- Communication Technologies: Investigates the development and impact of emerging digital tools and platforms, from social media and streaming services to artificial intelligence in content delivery.
- Visual and Digital Rhetoric: Focuses on how images, videos, and interactive design influence persuasion, identity, and public discourse in online and offline environments.
- Media Ethics and Law: Examines legal standards, professional responsibilities, and ethical dilemmas in journalism, broadcasting, and digital content creation.
- Global and Cultural Communication: Analyzes cross-cultural communication practices and the role of media in shaping international relations, global identities, and transnational narratives.
- Public and Strategic Communication: Develops expertise in crafting targeted messages for organizations, governments, and advocacy groups across multiple media channels.
Communication and Media Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Communication and Media Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Communication and Media Studies degrees, including . 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.
Career salary data is not available for this program.
Top Universities for Communication and Media Studies by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering 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 Communication and Media Studies is found at University of Southern California (USC) (237 graduates), University of Michigan (U‑M), Ann Arbor (232 graduates), Full Sail University (125 graduates), Montclair State University (111 graduates), and Boise State University (BBU) (94 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,227 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 Southern California (USC) |
Master's
|
237 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
232 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Full Sail University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
125 | Winter Park, Florida | Private | fullsail.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Bachelor's
|
111 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
94 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
80 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
79 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
78 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey |
Bachelor's
|
76 | Mahwah, New Jersey | Public | ramapo.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
|
56 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| University of North Georgia (UNG) |
Bachelor's
|
49 | Dahlonega, Georgia | Public | ung.edu |
| University of West Alabama (UWA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
46 | Livingston, Alabama | Public | uwa.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Bachelor's
|
41 | Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
32 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | neiu.edu |
| University of Akron |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
32 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| Curry College |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Milton, Massachusetts | Private | curry.edu |
| Drew University |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Madison, New Jersey | Private | drew.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| New Jersey City University (NJCU) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Jersey City, New Jersey | Public | njcu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYUH) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Laie, Hawaii | Private | byuh.edu |
| Emerson College |
Master's
|
24 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | emerson.edu |
| County College of Morris (CCM) |
Associate's
|
24 | Randolph, New Jersey | Public | ccm.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Other Award
|
24 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Master's
Other Award
|
23 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Stanford University |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| Drake University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
21 | Des Moines, Iowa | Private | drake.edu |
| Mitchell College |
Bachelor's
|
18 | New London, Connecticut | Private | mitchell.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Master's
|
16 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Gardner-Webb University (GWU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Boiling Springs, North Carolina | Private | gardner-webb.edu |
| Roger Williams University (RWU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Bristol, Rhode Island | Private | rwu.edu |
| Neumann University |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Aston, Pennsylvania | Private | neumann.edu |
| Belmont University |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | belmont.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Turlock, California | Public | csustan.edu |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) |
Associate's
|
13 | Perkinston, Mississippi | Public | mgccc.edu |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Mount Vernon, Ohio | Private | mvnu.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
13 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Master's
|
12 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| Willamette University |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Salem, Oregon | Private | willamette.edu |
| Salve Regina University |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Newport, Rhode Island | Private | salve.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Master's
|
12 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| Alabama A & M University (AAMU) |
Master's
|
11 | Normal, Alabama | Public | aamu.edu |
| Saint Leo University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Saint Leo, Florida | Private | saintleo.edu |
| Morehead State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Morehead, Kentucky | Public | moreheadstate.edu |
| Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) |
Associate's
|
11 | Branchburg, New Jersey | Public | raritanval.edu |
| Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Shawnee, Oklahoma | Private | okbu.edu |
| Clemson University |
Master's
|
11 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| Hood College |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Frederick, Maryland | Private | hood.edu |
| Assumption University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | assumption.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Master's
|
10 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| Nazareth University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Rochester, New York | Private | www2.naz.edu |
| DeSales University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Center Valley, Pennsylvania | Private | desales.edu |
| Old Dominion University (ODU) |
Master's
|
10 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | odu.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Master's
|
10 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| Long Island University (LIU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Brookville, New York | Private | liu.edu |
| Chatham University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | chatham.edu |
| Mercyhurst University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Private | mercyhurst.edu |
| Millsaps College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Jackson, Mississippi | Private | millsaps.edu |
| King's College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania | Private | kings.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Public | behrend.psu.edu |
| South Dakota State University (SDSU) |
Master's
|
8 | Brookings, South Dakota | Public | sdstate.edu |
| Arizona Western College (AWC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
7 | Yuma, Arizona | Public | azwestern.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Master's
|
7 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Danbury, Connecticut | Public | wcsu.edu |
| Wake Forest University (WFC) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Private | wfu.edu |
| Houston Christian University (HCU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Houston, Texas | Private | hc.edu |
| American International College (AIC) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Private | aic.edu |
| Lees-McRae College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Banner Elk, North Carolina | Private | lmc.edu |
| Lancaster Bible College (LBC) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Private | lbc.edu |
| Saint Francis University (SFU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Loretto, Pennsylvania | Private | francis.edu |
| Vermont State University (VTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Randolph, Vermont | Public | vermontstate.edu |
| Beloit College (Beloit) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Beloit, Wisconsin | Private | beloit.edu |
| Maranatha Baptist University (Mbbc) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Watertown, Wisconsin | Private | mbu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout |
Other Award
|
6 | Menomonie, Wisconsin | Public | uwstout.edu |
| Howard University (HU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | howard.edu |
| Missouri Baptist University (MBU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | mobap.edu |
| Cameron University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Lawton, Oklahoma | Public | cameron.edu |
| Corban University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Salem, Oregon | Private | corban.edu |
| La Roche University (LRU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
5 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | laroche.edu |
| Temple University |
Master's
|
5 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| King University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Bristol, Tennessee | Private | king.edu |
| Rhodes College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Memphis, Tennessee | Private | rhodes.edu |
| Fresno Pacific University (FPU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Fresno, California | Private | fresno.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| St. Thomas University (STU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Miami Gardens, Florida | Private | stu.edu |
| Emmanuel University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Franklin Springs, Georgia | Private | ec.edu |
| Reinhardt University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Waleska, Georgia | Private | reinhardt.edu |
| Concordia University (CUC) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | River Forest, Illinois | Private | cuchicago.edu |
| Southern Illinois University |
Master's
|
4 | Carbondale, Illinois | Public | siu.edu |
| Butler University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | butler.edu |
| University of Southern Indiana (USI) |
Master's
|
4 | Evansville, Indiana | Public | usi.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| College of Southern Maryland (CSM) |
Associate's
|
4 | La Plata, Maryland | Public | csmd.edu |
| Lawrence Technological University (LTU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Southfield, Michigan | Private | ltu.edu |
| Molloy College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Rockville Centre, New York | Private | molloy.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Associate's
|
4 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| Central Baptist College (CBC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Conway, Arkansas | Private | cbc.edu |
| Chapman University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Orange, California | Private | chapman.edu |
| Adams State University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Alamosa, Colorado | Public | adams.edu |
| Fairfield University |
Master's
|
3 | Fairfield, Connecticut | Private | fairfield.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Communication and Media Studies programs
Which universities have the largest Communication and Media Studies programs?
Currently 127 accredited institutions offer Communication and Media Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Southern California (USC) (237 graduates), University of Michigan (U‑M), Ann Arbor (232 graduates), and Full Sail University (125 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 Communication and Media Studies growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 2,491 in 2010 to a peak of 3,297 in 2020, before declining slightly to 2,273 in 2023-24. This represents a 9% 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.
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