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2023 Communications Technologies & Support Degree Guide

Communications Technologies and Support is a growing field that gives students the ability to combine their technical side with their passion for creative communication. Students take classes in areas such as computer design, drawing, photography, art, lighting, sound mixing, and film to learn all aspects of their desired career.

Some majors within the Communications Technologies and Support field include Communications Technology, Audiovisual Communications, and Graphic Communications. There are specific areas of specialization within these majors that allow students to hone in on their desired interest.

Communications Technologies & Support Degrees Decreasing

#32 Most Popular Major
14.8k Degrees Awarded
-2.5% Increase in Graduates

In 2020-2021, communications technologies and support was the 32nd most popular major nationwide with 14,826 degrees awarded. This represents a 2.5% reduction in communications technologies and support degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 15,192.

This year's Best Communications Technologies & Support Schools ranking compares 90 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of communications technologies and support programs later in this article.

2023 Best Colleges for Communications Technologies & Support
2023 Overall Best Communications Technologies & Support Colleges >

Best Communications Technologies & Support Schools by Degree

Associate Degrees in Communications Technologies & Support
Bachelor's Degrees in Communications Technologies & Support
Master's Degrees in Communications Technologies & Support

Communications Technologies & Support Degree Requirements

Since you will be working in the communications field, strong interpersonal skills are required. You must be able to communicate effectively with both colleagues and those who will be receiving your message. Other necessary skills include creativity, attention to detail, and proficiency with computer software.

Workweeks and hours vary depending on the type of job you have within the field. Typically, professionals work full time with extended hours during the week or on weekends while working on projects.

Internships and experience are important within the Communications Technologies field. Some jobs can be competitive and those with previous experience are more likely to be hired or promoted. Internships also give students the ability to build a professional portfolio of their previous work to show to potential clients and employers.

Prior Education for a Communications Technologies & Support Program

communications technologies and support 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. In addition to these basic communications technologies and support program qualifications, to serve in some communications technologies and support careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.

Communications Technologies & Support Degree Types

There are many different communications technologies and support degree levels. Communications Technologies & Support programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest communications technologies and support degree you can get. How long it takes to complete some common communications technologies and support degree levels is shown below.

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

An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to communications technologies and support, with approximately 19.6% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to communications technologies and support tend obtained the following education levels.

Level of Education Percentage of Workers
High School Diploma 30.3%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) 19.8%
Bachelor’s Degree 17.7%
Some College Courses 16.3%
Post-Secondary Certificate 11.8%

The chart below shows what degree level those who work in communications technologies and support have obtained.

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The education level required is different depending on the communications technologies and support career you are seeking.

Career Opportunities for Communications Technologies & Support Majors

Average Number of Jobs
$25.6k Average Starting Salary
-6% Decline Job Outlook 2016-26

There are a wide variety of careers available to a Communications Technologies major. Those with a specialization in animation or film may decide to work for a television or motion picture studio while graphic designers or graphic communications professionals may choose to go into advertising or work as a freelancer. A degree within this field will provide graduates with the necessary skills to confidently pursue numerous career paths.

Modest Decline Projected for Communications Technologies & Support Careers

Want a job when you graduate with your communications technologies and support degree?

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to communications technologies and support.

Occupation Name Projected Jobs Expected Growth
Data Entry Keyers 160,600 -21.2%
Printing Press Operators 160,200 -10.4%
Audio and Video Equipment Technicians 94,000 12.8%
Multimedia Artists and Animators 79,900 8.4%
Film and Video Editors 40,000 17.0%

How Much Money Do People With a Communications Technologies & Support Degree Make?

Recently graduated communications technologies and support students earned an average of $25,563 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $8,515 to as high as $67,897. As you might expect, salaries for communications technologies and support graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

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High Paying Careers for Communications Technologies & Support Majors

Salaries for communications technologies and support graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers communications technologies and support grads often go into.

Occupation Name Median Average Salary
Film and Video Editors $86,830
Multimedia Artists and Animators $78,230
Sound Engineering Technicians $63,500
Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators $61,750
Media and Communication Workers $52,430

Getting Your Communications Technologies & Support Degree

With over 1,555 different communications technologies and support 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 communications technologies and support school rankings to help you with this.

Communications Technologies & Support Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Graphic Communications 7,518
Audiovisual Communications 6,229
Communications Technology 915
Other Communication Technology 164

View All Communications Technologies & Support Related Majors >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Computer & Information Sciences 254,454
Engineering 198,468
Biological & Biomedical Sciences 177,778
Engineering Technologies 85,188
Mathematics & Statistics 52,396

View All Communications Technologies & Support Related Majors >

References

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