by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 65 U.S. colleges awarded 1,269 degrees and certificates in Communication & Journalism (Other). Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 62% of graduates. College Factual ranks 25 schools in its 2027 Best Communication & Journalism (Other) Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $45,826 one year after completing, rising to $67,832 after four years.
With the rapid increase in technology, the communications field is a quickly growing job field. Students who major in this field will develop excellent writing, critical thinking, and organizational skills that allow them to work in a variety of occupations. Students can choose a variety of majors and specializations. Some of the more rare majors not covered in other sections of communication and journalism are Agricultural Communications and Journalism and Business Communications.
Agricultural Communications and Journalism allows students to combine their passion for journalism and agriculture. Students will take classes in journalistic writing, video production techniques, photojournalism, broadcast news, and editing and design while also taking businesses classes that focus on agricultural economics, animals and plant sciences, and forestry. This degree will equip you with the skills to communicate any issues or advances within the agriculture business.
A degree in Business Communications prepares students to handle communications between multiple departments to ensure information is properly and clearly spread throughout an organization. Some Business Communications classes include advertising and marketing communications, interpersonal and group communication, media analysis and criticism, public relations writing, and public speaking. These classes will teach you how to write and speak professionally within a business setting.
Studying Communication & Journalism (Other) involves the study of Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs, Other.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, communication & journalism (other) is a popular field of study, with 1,269 degrees awarded annually. 65 colleges award communication & journalism (other) degrees, an average of 20 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 190.
By level, the 1,269 awards include 78 associate degrees, 786 bachelor’s degrees, 400 master’s degrees and 5 doctorates.
Women earned 66% of communication & journalism (other) degrees and certificates in the latest year (838 of 1,269). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (613) and Black or African American (287), and international students earned 97.
College Factual ranks 25 schools in its 2027 Best Communication & Journalism (Other) Schools ranking, including 4 for associate degrees, 16 for bachelor’s degrees and 6 for master’s degrees. It also ranks communication & journalism (other) schools within 13 states. In all, 65 colleges offer communication & journalism (other) programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Communication & Journalism (Other) Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common communication & journalism (other) credential is the bachelor’s degree: 786 of the 1,269 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to communication & journalism (other) call most for Writing, Reading Comprehension and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Communications and Media and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Expression, Oral Comprehension and Oral Expression.
Any major in Communications will require similar skills. Strong writing and interpersonal skills are necessary to ensure efficient communication. Students pursuing these majors should also have a passion for the topic they decide to concentrate in. These degrees will prepare you for a communications job in media, journalism, publishing, advertising, business and more.
Depending on the type of job, work hours may vary. News can happen at any time, so you may need to work odd hours covering important topics. Although internships are not required, they will provide experience within your field and get you noticed by possible employers. Agricultural Communications and Journalism majors should work on their campus newspaper or magazine to gain experience interviewing and writing news articles.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a communication & journalism (other) degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 78 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 786 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 400 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to communication & journalism (other), at 53.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 53.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10.8% |
| Some college courses | 8.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 7.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Communication & Journalism (Other), with an average median salary of $82,582; the strongest outlook belongs to Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers, at 9.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Communication Studies Professor, Instructor, Communications Instructor and Speech Teacher.
Those who graduate after majoring in communications can find work in a variety of fields in advertising, public relations, or other communications related jobs. Those who learned Agricultural Communications can work for farm and non-farm publications, news studios, or radio stations covering all aspects of agriculture. A Business Communications degree gives graduates possible careers working for companies managing organizational communication or working as speechwriters or publishers.
The occupation related to communication & journalism (other) with the most projected jobs is Communications Teachers, Postsecondary, at 919,494.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 919,494 | -1.5% |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | 175,767 | 9.1% |
| Writers and Authors | 155,629 | -4.3% |
| Editors | 11,763 | 3.2% |
Communication & Journalism (Other) graduates earn a median $45,826 one year after completing their program, $67,832 after four years and $65,962 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $45,826 |
| 4 years | $67,832 |
| 5 years | $65,962 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to communication & journalism (other) is Editors, with a median salary of $100,346.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Editors | $100,346 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,169 |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | $70,619 |
| Writers and Authors | $63,195 |
Communication & Journalism (Other) includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other (1,269). It has 5 similar majors in the Communication & Journalism field, which together award 107,214 degrees a year; the largest are Communication, General (55,601), Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (20,547) and Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (19,210). Browse all Communication & Journalism majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | 1,269 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Communication, General | 55,601 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 20,547 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 19,210 |
| Journalism | 11,474 |
| Publishing | 382 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
