Master’s Degrees in Communication & Media Studies
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Education Levels of Communications Majors
In 2020-2021, 4,407 earned their master's degree in communications. This makes it the 44th most popular master's 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 | 53,798 |
| Associate Degree | 6,434 |
| Master’s Degree | 4,407 |
| Basic Certificate | 1,449 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 425 |
| Graduate Certificate | 227 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 47 |
Earnings of Communications Majors With Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in communications is $47,008. A lot of factors can contribute to this number, such as the location of your workplace and the availability of other perks and bonuses. A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $40,548 and the high is $51,380.
Student Debt
We do not have the data to calculate the median and range of debt loads for communications students who are master's degree holders.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their master's degree in communications. About 73.9% of graduates with this degree are female.
| Gender | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Men | 1,152 |
| Women | 3,255 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of communications master’s degree students is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 135 |
| Black or African American | 524 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 535 |
| White | 2,241 |
| International Students | 594 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 378 |
Most Popular Communications Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 288 colleges that offer a master’s degree in communications. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
The most popular school in the United States for communications students seekinga master's degree is University of Southern California. Each year, around 46,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,446 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $60,446 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 211 people received their master's degree in communications from USC. About 80% of this group were women, and 40% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Purdue University - Main Campus is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in communications. Each year, around 46,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,718 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,718 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 186 master's degrees were handed out to communications majors at Purdue. Of these students, 75% were women and 24% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Arizona State University - Skysong comes in at #3 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in communications. Each year, around 53,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,710 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,774 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 163 people received their master's degree in communications from ASU - Skysong. Around 34% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 70% were women.
University of Denver is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in communications. Roughly 13,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $53,640 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $53,640 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 155 master's degrees were handed out to communications majors at DU. Of these students, 82% were women and 35% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Johns Hopkins University is the 5th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in communications. Each year, around 28,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $58,720 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $58,720 per year. The communications program at Johns Hopkins University awarded 149 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 79% were women and 30% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 6th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Florida. Each year, around 53,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $4,477 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,770 per year. The communications program at University of Florida awarded 129 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 78% of this group were women, and 25% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 7th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their master's degree is Grand Canyon University. Each year, around 103,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,401 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,621 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 115 people received their master's degree in communications from Grand Canyon University. Around 45% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 81% were women.
The 8th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their master's degree is Florida International University. Roughly 58,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $4,721 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,912 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 111 master's degrees were handed out to communications majors at FIU. Around 71% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 79% were women.
Liberty University comes in at #9 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in communications. Each year, around 93,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $15,409 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,847 per year. The communications program at Liberty University awarded 99 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 79% were women and 25% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Northwestern University is the 10th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in communications. Roughly 22,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,276 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $56,067 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 92 people received their master's degree in communications from Northwestern. Around 16% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 82% were women.
Columbia University in the City of New York is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in communications. Roughly 30,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $59,450 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $50,496 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 84 master's degrees were handed out to communications majors at Columbia. Of these students, 77% were women and 21% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 12th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their master's degree is American University. Roughly 14,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $50,542 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $37,447 per year. The communications program at American University awarded 71 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 87% of this group were women, and 25% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 13th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their master's degree is Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network. Roughly 11,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $12,984 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $22,866 per year. The communications program at Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network awarded 69 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 74% of this group were women, and 10% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Texas Tech University is the 14th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in communications. Each year, around 40,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,935 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,956 per year. The communications program at Texas Tech University awarded 68 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 81% were women and 34% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Boston University comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in communications. Roughly 32,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $58,560 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $58,560 per year. The communications program at Boston University awarded 59 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 76% were women and 3% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 16th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their master's degree is Queens University of Charlotte. Roughly 2,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $37,348 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,552 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 48 people received their master's degree in communications from Queens. About 71% of this group were women, and 46% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 17th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their master's degree is Illinois State University. Roughly 20,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,932 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,805 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 44 master's degrees were handed out to communications majors at Illinois State. Of these students, 80% were women and 23% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
West Virginia University comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in communications. Each year, around 26,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,144 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,332 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 43 master's degrees were handed out to communications majors at WVU. Of these students, 63% were women and 16% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Drake University comes in at #19 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in communications. Each year, around 4,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $45,734 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,738 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 41 people received their master's degree in communications from Drake. Of these students, 68% were women and 20% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Washington State University comes in at #19 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in communications. Each year, around 31,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,457 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,076 per year. The communications program at Washington State University awarded 41 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 73% of this group were women, and 32% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to communications that offer master’s degrees.
| Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Public Relations & Advertising | 2,542 |
| Radio, TV & Digital Communication | 2,343 |
| Journalism | 1,181 |
| Other Communication & Journalism | 314 |
| Publishing | 210 |
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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