by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 79 U.S. colleges awarded 1,837 degrees and certificates in General Organizational Communication. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 72% of graduates. College Factual ranks 28 schools in its 2027 Best General Organizational Communication 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.
Studying General Organizational Communication explores Organizational Communication, General. A Program That Focuses On General Communication Processes And Dynamics Within Organizations. Includes Instruction In The Development And Maintenance Of Interpersonal Group Relations Within Organizations; Decision-Making And Conflict Management; The Use Of Symbols To Create And Maintain Organizational Images, Missions, And Values; Power And Politics Within Organizations; Human Interaction With Computer Technology; And How Communications Socializes And Supports Employees And Team Members.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, general organizational communication draws strong interest, with 1,837 degrees awarded annually. 79 colleges award general organizational communication degrees, an average of 23 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 920.
By level, the 1,837 awards include 2 certificates, 5 associate degrees, 1,319 bachelor’s degrees, 509 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 70% of general organizational communication degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,289 of 1,837). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (911) and Hispanic or Latino (272), and international students earned 72.
College Factual ranks 28 schools in its 2027 Best General Organizational Communication Schools ranking, including 20 for bachelor’s degrees and 10 for master’s degrees. It also ranks general organizational communication schools within 14 states. In all, 79 colleges offer general organizational communication programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Organizational Communication Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general organizational communication credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,319 of the 1,837 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general organizational communication call most for Speaking, Instructing and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Personnel and Human Resources, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a general organizational communication degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,319 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 509 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general organizational communication, at 77.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 77.4% |
| Master’s degree | 7.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.5% |
| Some college courses | 1.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to General Organizational Communication, with an average median salary of $99,479; the strongest outlook belongs to Training and Development Specialists, at 11.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Training Supervisor, HR Trainer (Human Resources Trainer), Development Associate and Development Coordinator.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to general organizational communication, at 622,945.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Training and Development Specialists | 622,945 | 11.3% |
| Human Resources Managers | 404,262 | -3.6% |
| Training and Development Managers | 394,938 | -0.4% |
General Organizational Communication 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 highest-paying occupation related to general organizational communication is Training and Development Managers, with a median salary of $139,524.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Training and Development Managers | $139,524 |
| Human Resources Managers | $95,702 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $63,210 |
General Organizational Communication has 10 similar majors in the Communication & Journalism field, which together award 18,710 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 |
| Communication Management and Strategic Communications | 2,072 |
| 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.
