Communication and Media Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Q: 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).

Q: 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.

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)

2,273

Total Graduates (2023-2024)

127

Universities & Colleges

N/A

Career Pathways

Career & Salary Outlook Schools Offering This Program Related Programs

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	Admissions	Location	Control	Website
University of Southern California (USC)	Master's	237	SAT: 1450-1550 ACT: 32-35	Los Angeles, California	Private	usc.edu
University of Michigan (U‑M)	Bachelor's Master's	232	SAT: 1360-1530 ACT: 31-34	Ann Arbor, Michigan	Public	umich.edu
Full Sail University	Associate's Bachelor's	125	N/A	Winter Park, Florida	Private	fullsail.edu
Montclair State University	Bachelor's	111	SAT: 910-1210	Montclair, New Jersey	Public	montclair.edu
Boise State University (BBU)	Bachelor's Other Award	94	N/A	Boise, Idaho	Public	boisestate.edu
Auburn University (AU)	Bachelor's Master's	80	SAT: 1260-1390 ACT: 26-31	Auburn, Alabama	Public	auburn.edu
Ohio University (OHIO)	Postbac Cert. Other Award	79	SAT: 1090-1290 ACT: 22-28	Athens, Ohio	Public	ohio.edu
University of Pennsylvania (Penn)	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	78	SAT: 1510-1570 ACT: 34-36	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Private	upenn.edu
Ramapo College of New Jersey	Bachelor's	76	SAT: 1130-1300 ACT: 22-30	Mahwah, New Jersey	Public	ramapo.edu
Northeastern University (NU)	Bachelor's	56	SAT: 1440-1540 ACT: 33-35	Boston, Massachusetts	Private	northeastern.edu
University of North Georgia (UNG)	Bachelor's	49	SAT: 980-1210 ACT: 19-25	Dahlonega, Georgia	Public	ung.edu
University of West Alabama (UWA)	Bachelor's Master's	46	SAT: 860-1120 ACT: 16-21	Livingston, Alabama	Public	uwa.edu
Southern Methodist University (SMU)	Bachelor's	41	SAT: 1340-1490 ACT: 30-34	Dallas, Texas	Private	smu.edu
Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU)	Bachelor's Master's	32	N/A	Chicago, Illinois	Public	neiu.edu
University of Akron	Certificate (1-2 yrs) Postbac Cert. Other Award	32	SAT: 900-1190 ACT: 17-25	Akron, Ohio	Public	uakron.edu
Curry College	Bachelor's	29	SAT: 1050-1230	Milton, Massachusetts	Private	curry.edu
Drew University	Bachelor's	26	SAT: 1103-1338 ACT: 24-30	Madison, New Jersey	Private	drew.edu
Rowan University	Bachelor's	26	SAT: 1110-1310 ACT: 23-29	Glassboro, New Jersey	Public	rowan.edu
New Jersey City University (NJCU)	Bachelor's	25	N/A	Jersey City, New Jersey	Public	njcu.edu
Brigham Young University (BYUH)	Bachelor's	25	SAT: 960-1190 ACT: 21-25	Laie, Hawaii	Private	byuh.edu
Emerson College	Master's	24	SAT: 1270-1420 ACT: 29-32	Boston, Massachusetts	Private	emerson.edu
County College of Morris (CCM)	Associate's	24	N/A	Randolph, New Jersey	Public	ccm.edu
University of Wisconsin-Madison	Other Award	24	SAT: 1380-1520 ACT: 29-33	Madison, Wisconsin	Public	wisc.edu
Arkansas State University (A-State)	Master's Other Award	23	SAT: 970-1190 ACT: 18-24	Jonesboro, Arkansas	Public	astate.edu
Stanford University	Bachelor's Doctorate (R)	22	SAT: 1510-1580 ACT: 34-35	Stanford, California	Private	stanford.edu
Drake University	Bachelor's Master's	21	SAT: 1110-1350 ACT: 24-29	Des Moines, Iowa	Private	drake.edu
Mitchell College	Bachelor's	18	N/A	New London, Connecticut	Private	mitchell.edu
Loyola University Chicago (LUC)	Master's	16	SAT: 1170-1360 ACT: 27-32	Chicago, Illinois	Private	luc.edu
Gardner-Webb University (GWU)	Bachelor's	16	SAT: 975-1198 ACT: 19-25	Boiling Springs, North Carolina	Private	gardner-webb.edu
Roger Williams University (RWU)	Bachelor's	16	SAT: 1140-1310 ACT: 24-29	Bristol, Rhode Island	Private	rwu.edu
Neumann University	Bachelor's	15	N/A	Aston, Pennsylvania	Private	neumann.edu
Belmont University	Bachelor's	14	SAT: 1160-1350 ACT: 24-30	Nashville, Tennessee	Private	belmont.edu
California State University	Bachelor's	13	N/A	Turlock, California	Public	csustan.edu
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC)	Associate's	13	N/A	Perkinston, Mississippi	Public	mgccc.edu
Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU)	Bachelor's	13	SAT: 1046-1315 ACT: 18-25	Mount Vernon, Ohio	Private	mvnu.edu
University of Oregon (UO)	Master's Post-Master's	13	SAT: 1130-1360 ACT: 23-30	Eugene, Oregon	Public	uoregon.edu
Florida Atlantic University (FAU)	Master's	12	SAT: 1040-1200 ACT: 21-26	Boca Raton, Florida	Public	fau.edu
Willamette University	Bachelor's	12	SAT: 1240-1440 ACT: 28-33	Salem, Oregon	Private	willamette.edu
Salve Regina University	Bachelor's	12	SAT: 1160-1330 ACT: 26-29	Newport, Rhode Island	Private	salve.edu
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)	Master's	12	SAT: 1280-1450 ACT: 28-32	Blacksburg, Virginia	Public	vt.edu
Alabama A & M University (AAMU)	Master's	11	SAT: 810-1040 ACT: 14-19	Normal, Alabama	Public	aamu.edu
Saint Leo University	Bachelor's	11	N/A	Saint Leo, Florida	Private	saintleo.edu
Morehead State University (MSU)	Bachelor's	11	N/A	Morehead, Kentucky	Public	moreheadstate.edu
Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC)	Associate's	11	N/A	Branchburg, New Jersey	Public	raritanval.edu
Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU)	Bachelor's	11	SAT: 1070-1240 ACT: 17-19	Shawnee, Oklahoma	Private	okbu.edu
Clemson University	Master's	11	SAT: 1240-1410 ACT: 28-32	Clemson, South Carolina	Public	clemson.edu
Hood College	Bachelor's	10	N/A	Frederick, Maryland	Private	hood.edu
Assumption University	Bachelor's	10	N/A	Worcester, Massachusetts	Private	assumption.edu
Mississippi State University (MSU)	Master's	10	SAT: 1100-1350 ACT: 21-29	Mississippi State, Mississippi	Public	msstate.edu
Nazareth University	Bachelor's	10	SAT: 1070-1320 ACT: 23-32	Rochester, New York	Private	www2.naz.edu
DeSales University	Bachelor's	10	SAT: 1090-1260 ACT: 27-28	Center Valley, Pennsylvania	Private	desales.edu
Old Dominion University (ODU)	Master's	10	SAT: 1100-1280 ACT: 24-29	Norfolk, Virginia	Public	odu.edu
University of Virginia (UVA)	Master's	10	SAT: 1410-1540 ACT: 32-35	Charlottesville, Virginia	Public	virginia.edu
The University of Alabama (UA)	Doctorate (R)	9	SAT: 1170-1400 ACT: 24-31	Tuscaloosa, Alabama	Public	ua.edu
Long Island University (LIU)	Bachelor's	9	SAT: 1110-1350 ACT: 21-30	Brookville, New York	Private	liu.edu
Chatham University	Bachelor's Master's	9	SAT: 1070-1295 ACT: 21-30	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Private	chatham.edu
Mercyhurst University	Bachelor's	9	N/A	Erie, Pennsylvania	Private	mercyhurst.edu
Millsaps College	Bachelor's	8	SAT: 1025-1150 ACT: 21-28	Jackson, Mississippi	Private	millsaps.edu
King's College	Bachelor's	8	SAT: 1070-1270	Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania	Private	kings.edu
Pennsylvania State University	Bachelor's	8	SAT: 1120-1310 ACT: 25-31	Erie, Pennsylvania	Public	behrend.psu.edu
South Dakota State University (SDSU)	Master's	8	SAT: 1060-1240 ACT: 19-25	Brookings, South Dakota	Public	sdstate.edu
Arizona Western College (AWC)	Certificate (1-2 yrs) Associate's	7	N/A	Yuma, Arizona	Public	azwestern.edu
University of Denver (DU)	Master's	7	SAT: 1240-1410 ACT: 28-33	Denver, Colorado	Private	du.edu
Western Connecticut State University (WCSU)	Bachelor's	7	SAT: 1040-1170	Danbury, Connecticut	Public	wcsu.edu
Wake Forest University (WFC)	Bachelor's	7	SAT: 1410-1520 ACT: 32-34	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	Private	wfu.edu
Houston Christian University (HCU)	Bachelor's	7	SAT: 990-1190 ACT: 17-24	Houston, Texas	Private	hc.edu
American International College (AIC)	Bachelor's	6	N/A	Springfield, Massachusetts	Private	aic.edu
Lees-McRae College	Bachelor's	6	N/A	Banner Elk, North Carolina	Private	lmc.edu
Lancaster Bible College (LBC)	Bachelor's	6	SAT: 1070-1280	Lancaster, Pennsylvania	Private	lbc.edu
Saint Francis University (SFU)	Bachelor's	6	SAT: 1050-1230 ACT: 21-27	Loretto, Pennsylvania	Private	francis.edu
Vermont State University (VTSU)	Bachelor's	6	N/A	Randolph, Vermont	Public	vermontstate.edu
Beloit College (Beloit)	Bachelor's	6	SAT: 1200-1430 ACT: 24-30	Beloit, Wisconsin	Private	beloit.edu
Maranatha Baptist University (Mbbc)	Bachelor's	6	SAT: 940-1260 ACT: 20-28	Watertown, Wisconsin	Private	mbu.edu
University of Wisconsin-Stout	Other Award	6	ACT: 20-27	Menomonie, Wisconsin	Public	uwstout.edu
Howard University (HU)	Doctorate (R)	5	SAT: 1090-1320 ACT: 22-28	Washington, District of Columbia	Private	howard.edu
Missouri Baptist University (MBU)	Bachelor's	5	ACT: 12-18	Saint Louis, Missouri	Private	mobap.edu
Cameron University	Bachelor's	5	N/A	Lawton, Oklahoma	Public	cameron.edu
Corban University	Bachelor's	5	N/A	Salem, Oregon	Private	corban.edu
La Roche University (LRU)	Bachelor's Master's	5	SAT: 940-1200 ACT: 15-22	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Private	laroche.edu
Temple University	Master's	5	N/A	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Public	temple.edu
King University	Bachelor's	5	N/A	Bristol, Tennessee	Private	king.edu
Rhodes College	Bachelor's	5	SAT: 1300-1486 ACT: 26-32	Memphis, Tennessee	Private	rhodes.edu
Fresno Pacific University (FPU)	Bachelor's	4	N/A	Fresno, California	Private	fresno.edu
Florida State University (FSU)	Doctorate (R)	4	SAT: 1270-1410 ACT: 29-32	Tallahassee, Florida	Public	fsu.edu
St. Thomas University (STU)	Bachelor's	4	N/A	Miami Gardens, Florida	Private	stu.edu
Emmanuel University	Bachelor's	4	N/A	Franklin Springs, Georgia	Private	ec.edu
Reinhardt University	Bachelor's	4	N/A	Waleska, Georgia	Private	reinhardt.edu
Concordia University (CUC)	Bachelor's	4	N/A	River Forest, Illinois	Private	cuchicago.edu
Southern Illinois University	Master's	4	SAT: 900-1160 ACT: 18-25	Carbondale, Illinois	Public	siu.edu
Butler University	Bachelor's	4	SAT: 1160-1350 ACT: 26-31	Indianapolis, Indiana	Private	butler.edu
University of Southern Indiana (USI)	Master's	4	SAT: 1030-1240 ACT: 21-27	Evansville, Indiana	Public	usi.edu
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU)	Doctorate (R)	4	SAT: 1180-1340 ACT: 24-30	Baton Rouge, Louisiana	Public	lsu.edu
College of Southern Maryland (CSM)	Associate's	4	N/A	La Plata, Maryland	Public	csmd.edu
Lawrence Technological University (LTU)	Bachelor's	4	N/A	Southfield, Michigan	Private	ltu.edu
Molloy College	Bachelor's	4	SAT: 1088-1290 ACT: 22-28	Rockville Centre, New York	Private	molloy.edu
Weber State University (WSU)	Associate's	4	N/A	Ogden, Utah	Public	weber.edu
Central Baptist College (CBC)	Bachelor's	3	SAT: 883-1121 ACT: 17-23	Conway, Arkansas	Private	cbc.edu
Chapman University	Bachelor's	3	SAT: 1260-1440 ACT: 28-31	Orange, California	Private	chapman.edu
Adams State University	Bachelor's	3	N/A	Alamosa, Colorado	Public	adams.edu
Fairfield University	Master's	3	SAT: 1260-1390 ACT: 29-32	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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