by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 64 U.S. colleges awarded 2,072 degrees and certificates in Communication Management and Strategic Communications. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 59% of graduates. College Factual ranks 23 schools in its 2027 Best Communication Management and Strategic Communications Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $43,684 one year after completing, rising to $67,080 after four years.
A degree in Communication Management and Strategic Communications covers A Program That Focuses On The Critical Thinking, Analysis, And Practical Skills Essential To Developing And Implementing Communication Strategies That Advance Organizations Goals And Missions. Includes Instruction In Communication Management, Crisis Communication, Communications Law, Digital And Traditional Marketing Strategies, Media Relations, Social Media Strategies, Strategic Communication, Traditional And Emerging Media, And Writing For The Media.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., communication management and strategic communications draws strong interest, with 2,072 degrees awarded annually. 64 colleges award communication management and strategic communications degrees, an average of 32 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 574.
By level, the 2,072 awards include 312 associate degrees, 1,217 bachelor’s degrees, 535 master’s degrees and 8 doctorates.
Women earned 79% of communication management and strategic communications degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,643 of 2,072). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,303) and Hispanic or Latino (268), and international students earned 74.
College Factual ranks 23 schools in its 2027 Best Communication Management and Strategic Communications Schools ranking, including 1 for associate degrees, 17 for bachelor’s degrees and 9 for master’s degrees. It also ranks communication management and strategic communications schools within 15 states. In all, 64 colleges offer communication management and strategic communications programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Communication Management and Strategic Communications Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common communication management and strategic communications credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,217 of the 2,072 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to communication management and strategic communications call most for Critical Thinking, Speaking and Social Perceptiveness, and for knowledge of Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service and Administrative, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a communication management and strategic communications degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 312 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,217 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 535 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 8 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to communication management and strategic communications, at 65.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 65.5% |
| Some college courses | 19.6% |
| Master’s degree | 10.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Communication Management and Strategic Communications, with an average median salary of $115,043; the strongest outlook belongs to Public Relations Managers, at 7.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Campaign Manager, Community Manager, Development Director and Philanthropy Director.
The occupation related to communication management and strategic communications with the most projected jobs is Fundraising Managers, at 340,731.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Fundraising Managers | 340,731 | -1.0% |
| Public Relations Managers | 337,124 | 7.0% |
Communication Management and Strategic Communications graduates earn a median $43,684 one year after completing their program, $67,080 after four years and $64,953 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,684 |
| 4 years | $67,080 |
| 5 years | $64,953 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to communication management and strategic communications, with a median salary of $139,736.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Public Relations Managers | $139,736 |
| Fundraising Managers | $90,350 |
Communication Management and Strategic Communications has 10 similar majors in the Communication & Journalism field, which together award 18,475 degrees a year; the largest are Advertising (4,633), Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (4,246) and Public Relations/Image Management (4,191). Browse all Communication & Journalism majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Advertising | 4,633 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 4,246 |
| Public Relations/Image Management | 4,191 |
| Organizational Communication, General | 1,837 |
| Sports Communication | 1,509 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other | 1,165 |
| Health Communication | 365 |
| Political Communication | 196 |
| Technical and Scientific Communication | 175 |
| International and Intercultural Communication | 158 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
