Associate Degrees in Communication & Media Studies
Education Levels of Communications Majors
During the most recent year for which data is available, 4,796 people earned their associate degree in communications. This makes it the 24th most popular associate degree program in the country.
The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in communications at each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 44,674 |
| Associate Degree | 4,796 |
| Master’s Degree | 4,685 |
| Basic Certificate | 1,528 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 573 |
| Graduate Certificate | 300 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 64 |
Earnings of Communications Majors With Associate Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding an associate degree in communications is $27,123. However, this can depend on a number of factors, such as where you live and the number of years experience you have. To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $23,307 to a high of $30,471.
Student Debt
We do not have the data to estimate the median debt for this class of people.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their associate degree in communications. About 58.8% of graduates with this degree are female.
| Gender | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Men | 1,977 |
| Women | 2,819 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of communications associate degree students is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 369 |
| Black or African American | 485 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,811 |
| White | 1,622 |
| International Students | 92 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 417 |
Most Popular Communications Programs for Associate Degrees
There are 289 colleges that offer an associate degree in communications. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
Long Beach City College tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for communications majors who are seeking their associate degree. Each year, around 23,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 180 people received their associate degree in communications from Long Beach City College. About 63% of this group were women, and 85% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that Long Beach City College graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $27,123.
The 2nd most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their associate degree is Santa Monica College. Roughly 25,900 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 175 people received their associate degree in communications from SMC. Of these students, 67% were women and 64% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that SMC graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $27,123.
Santa Barbara City College comes in at #3 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in communications. Each year, around 12,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 156 people received their associate degree in communications from SBCC. About 69% of this group were women, and 38% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Santa Barbara City College communications graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $27,123.
Orange Coast College is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in communications. Roughly 18,100 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 140 people received their associate degree in communications from Orange Coast College. Around 57% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 61% were women. Those who complete their associate degree in communications at Orange Coast College make a median salary of 27,123.
Chaffey College comes in at #5 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in communications. Roughly 20,000 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 130 people received their associate degree in communications from Chaffey College. About 48% of this group were women, and 69% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their associate degree in communications at Chaffey College make a median salary of 27,123.
Pasadena City College comes in at #6 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in communications. Roughly 25,000 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 128 people received their associate degree in communications from Pasadena City College. Of these students, 63% were women and 88% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Pasadena City College communications graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $27,123.
Mt. San Antonio College comes in at #7 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in communications. Roughly 28,300 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 123 people received their associate degree in communications from Mt. SAC. Of these students, 49% were women and 87% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their associate degree in communications at Mt. San Antonio College make a median salary of 27,123.
Saddleback College is the 8th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in communications. Each year, around 18,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 122 people received their associate degree in communications from Saddleback College. Of these students, 59% were women and 40% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that Saddleback College graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $27,123.
Bakersfield College comes in at #9 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in communications. Each year, around 24,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 119 people received their associate degree in communications from Bakersfield College. Of these students, 52% were women and 70% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that Bakersfield College graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $27,123.
Fullerton College comes in at #10 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in communications. Roughly 21,400 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 102 people received their associate degree in communications from Fullerton College. Around 77% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 57% were women. Fullerton College communications graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $27,123.
The 11th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their associate degree is Borough of Manhattan Community College. Each year, around 22,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 101 people received their associate degree in communications from BMCC. About 62% of this group were women, and 87% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Borough of Manhattan Community College communications graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $27,123.
El Camino College is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in communications. Roughly 20,400 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 101 people received their associate degree in communications from El Camino College. Around 75% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 66% were women. El Camino College communications graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $27,123.
Diablo Valley College is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in communications. Roughly 18,600 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 101 people received their associate degree in communications from Diablo Valley. About 49% of this group were women, and 71% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that Diablo Valley graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $27,123.
De Anza College is the 14th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in communications. Roughly 18,600 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 93 people received their associate degree in communications from De Anza College. Around 80% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 64% were women. Data shows that De Anza College graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $27,123.
Foothill College is the 15th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in communications. Each year, around 14,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 87 people received their associate degree in communications from Foothill College. Of these students, 60% were women and 81% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Foothill College communications graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $27,123.
College of the Canyons is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in communications. Each year, around 20,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 86 people received their associate degree in communications from College of the Canyons. About 53% of this group were women, and 57% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. College of the Canyons communications graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $27,123.
The 17th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their associate degree is MiraCosta College. Roughly 12,600 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 77 people received their associate degree in communications from MiraCosta College. Of these students, 72% were women and 56% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. MiraCosta College communications graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $27,123.
Sierra College comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in communications. Roughly 17,500 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 76 people received their associate degree in communications from Sierra College. About 63% of this group were women, and 53% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Sierra College communications graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $27,123.
Moorpark College comes in at #19 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in communications. Each year, around 14,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 72 people received their associate degree in communications from Moorpark College. About 61% of this group were women, and 53% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Moorpark College communications graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $27,123.
Golden West College comes in at #20 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in communications. Each year, around 11,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 71 people received their associate degree in communications from Golden West College. Of these students, 67% were women and 50% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Golden West College communications graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $27,123.
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to communications that offer associate degrees.
| Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Radio, TV & Digital Communication | 1,554 |
| Journalism | 545 |
| Public Relations & Advertising | 469 |
| Other Communication & Journalism | 75 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Image Credit: By UNU-WIDER from Helsinki, Finland under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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