2022 Communication & Journalism Degree Guide
Majoring in the field of Communication and Journalism will equip students with all types of knowledge on how to communicate with the general public through a plethora of media outlets. You will have the opportunity to take classes ranging from speech writing to design and layout while learning how to improve your writing and verbal communication skills.
There are many options when it comes to choosing your major within this field. Communications and Media Studies gives you the opportunity to study communications at broad level and understand all types of media. If you are passionate about reporting news stories to the public you may choose to go into Journalism. Or if you are interested in building a reputation or brand for clients Public Relations and Advertising may be a good choice. You also have the option to focus on Radio, Television, and Digital Communication to learn skills to design, develop, and manage types of digital media or major in Publishing and focus on layout and design. No matter what major you decide to focus on, a degree in communication and journalism will enhance your writing and verbal communication skills, making you a great candidate for any type of employment.
Communication & Journalism Degrees Remain Stable
Communication & Journalism was the 11th most popular major in the 2019-2020 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 116,154 degrees in this year alone. This represents a small change of only -0.1% from the prior year's total of 116,237 communication and journalism degrees awarded.
The United States has 1,609 different schools where you can get a degree in communication and journalism. Our 2022 Best Communication & Journalism Schools ranking analyzes 874 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for communication and journalism students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of communication and journalism programs later in this article.
Requirements for Getting a Degree in Communication & Journalism
Those going into the communications field should enjoy communicating through the written word as well as through interaction with people. A career in this field will require constant meetings with clients, other communications professionals, and members of the media. Communications professionals are often in fast paced careers, making the skills to balance multiple projects a necessity. This field of study is also best suited for students who are detail oriented and enjoy problem solving and investigation.
Typically, most careers in the communications and journalism fields are full time, but don't stick to the 40-hour workweek. New stories may cause journalists to work at odd hours while long projects or deadlines will force communications specialists to work in evenings and on the weekend.
Prior Education for a Communication & Journalism Program
communication and journalism degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Once you obtain your degree, additional communication and journalism certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Communication & Journalism Degree Types
There are many different communication and journalism degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in communication and journalism to something that takes less time like a . The time it takes to complete a communication and journalism degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to communication and journalism, with approximately 53.4% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for communication and journalism workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 54.6% |
| Master’s Degree | 10.6% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 9.1% |
| Some College Courses | 8.6% |
| High School Diploma | 8.0% |
About 68.3% of workers in careers related to communication and journalism obtain at least bachelor's degrees. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in communication and journalism have received.
This of course varies depending on which communication and journalism career you choose.
Communication & Journalism Careers
A degree in the communications and journalism field opens a wide array of career options to graduates. You may decide to work in a public relations firm, at a publishing house, as a representative for a major corporation, as a speechwriter, or work as a consultant. No matter what career path you choose, you can be confident that your degree in communication and journalism will give you the skills to work and advance within any organization.
Growth Projected for Communication & Journalism Careers
Want a job when you graduate with your communication and journalism degree? Communication & Journalism careers are expected to grow 6.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to communication and journalism.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| Public Relations Specialists | 282,600 | 8.9% |
| Producers and Directors | 151,200 | 12.2% |
| Writers and Authors | 141,200 | 7.6% |
| Photographers | 139,000 | -5.6% |
Communication & Journalism Degree Salary Potential
Recently graduated communication and journalism students earned an average of $32,549 in 2017-2018. Earnings can range from as low as $5,200 to as high as $97,600. As you might expect, salaries for communication and journalism graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Highest Paid Communication & Journalism Careers
Salaries for communication and journalism graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers communication and journalism grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $133,090 |
| Public Relations and Fundraising Managers | $131,570 |
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Broadcast News Analysts | $91,990 |
| Artist, Athlete, and Performer Agents and Business Managers | $90,930 |
Getting Your Communication & Journalism Degree
With over 5,302 different communication and journalism degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased communication and journalism school rankings to help you with this.
Majors Related to Communication & Journalism
Communication & Journalism Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Communication & Media Studies | 66,383 |
| Public Relations & Advertising | 19,553 |
| Radio, Television & Digital Communication | 14,429 |
| Journalism | 14,344 |
| Communication & Journalism (Other) | 1,203 |
View All Communication & Journalism Related Majors >
Most Popular Majors Related to Communication & Journalism
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Education | 271,067 |
| Social Sciences | 201,490 |
| Psychology | 180,396 |
| Family, Consumer & Human Sciences | 36,482 |
| History | 32,702 |
View All Communication & Journalism Related Majors >
References
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Image Credit: By Josh Hallett under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
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