Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Communications Degree

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Communications Degree

The best communications liberal arts colleges are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best communications degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding communications faculty.

Top 10 Liberal Arts Colleges Communications Programs

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Key Takeaways

  • Communications is among one of the most popular college majors. A degree in communications can provide pathways into countless fields and career opportunities.
  • A liberal arts college typically offers smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and a wide range of subject areas to study.
  • The liberal arts colleges in our ranking offer excellent communications programs. Some top considerations when choosing the right school include: cost, curricula, and student-teacher ratio.

Featured Programs

Communications Within the Liberal Arts Discipline

For centuries, the liberal arts and sciences have been the core of any college education and are more useful and important today than ever before. Instead of a narrow program with a primary focus, an liberal arts education includes many subjects and areas of study.

You can study and explore:

  • The humanities
  • The arts
  • Hard sciences
  • Languages
  • Social sciences
  • Mass communications
  • Health professions
  • Environmental sciences
  • Writing
  • Math

...and many others. You will be exposed to the cultures and ideas of other people from across the world, from ancient times up to today.

With this many interesting things to learn and discover within the liberal arts and sciences umbrella, it’s not a surprise to find so many liberal arts colleges today.

Selecting a Communications Program in the Best Liberal Arts College

Once you have decided to attend a liberal arts college, there are several factors to consider when scouting for the right school. It’s imperative for communications students that your chosen college will meet your educational and personal needs. Here are some helpful guidelines to get you started.

Assess the Curriculum and Evaluate the School

Ideally, start considering the liberal arts college you want to attend during your junior year in high school. Compile a list of potential colleges to choose from, then start narrowing down your list by researching all the schools on your list, assessing their curriculum.

Know the College’s Strengths and Weaknesses

All liberal arts colleges are not created equal. Make sure the school you are interested in is not weak in the areas that are crucial to you.

For example, if you plan to study music, don’t attend a liberal arts college with a solid science program but only a sub-par music offering. Discover both the strengths and weaknesses of every liberal college on your list.

Check the Student-Teacher Ratio

A lot of college students who intend to attend a liberal arts college prefer a lower student-teacher ratio. But it is also important to note that while most liberal arts colleges generally have smaller class sizes, not all do.

However, the student-teacher ratio is one of the strongest signs of student success and engagement. This will provide you with information as to how personalized an instruction might be.

In larger colleges, students can easily feel like small fish in a big pond. With larger classes, it is harder for professors to connect with students. With a college that has a lower student-teacher ratio, it is easier for professors and students to make those connections.

Graduation Rates

One way to assess a school’s performance is by looking at its graduation rates. Graduation rates can help you get a sense of the quality of the school. These metrics tell you how many students are enrolled and how many of these students complete their degrees.

Pay close attention to how a school supports its students on its campus. Colleges with low graduation rates may indicate certain issues like a lack of student guidance or support services

Frequently Asked Questions About Communications Bachelor’s Degrees

You can turn a communications major into a virtually limitless array of careers. How you use your degree in communications will depend largely on a combination of skills, personal interests, and opportunity. Whether you’d like to edit books for a publishing house, produce a talk radio show, or chase news stories across the globe, majoring in communication can get you started on your way.

Today, top influencers in communication are expanding research on subjects such as the political economy of communication, community media ecologies and impacts on civic and public life, citizen journalism, and much more.

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Communications is a popular major because it can provide pathways into countless fields and career opportunities. The study of communication is a balance of theoretical concepts and practical skills. These practical skills are valuable in any field. You’ll learn many of the critical 21st Century skills that employers value such as collaboration, creativity, and the ability to express yourself in a variety of media. Hiring firms actively seek out job candidates with strong writing, speaking, and web-mediated communication skills.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2019, the median annual wage for media and communication occupations was $59,230, as compared to a median annual wage for all occupations of $39,810. And if you succeed as an on-air broadcasting talent, an accomplished journalist, or a noted public relations specialist, you could earn quite a bit more.

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Once you’ve declared your major in communications, you will likely be required to complete a set of core courses in a number of related subject areas. While your concentration will give you a chance to choose from a wide range of highly-specialized communications electives, there are a number of common courses that most communications majors will be required to take, including:

  • Communication in Digital Media
  • Public Relations
  • Technical Writing
  • Writing in Journalism
  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Organizational Communication
  • Photojournalism
  • Crisis Communication

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Majoring in communication can provide inroads to a wide range of careers in mass media, journalism, writing, public relations, publishing and much more. Your communication skills and personal interests could take you down a wide range of professional paths, including these top jobs:

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Related: How to Major in Communications

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Communications Degree Programs

If you think a research university may be a better fit for you, see our ranking of the best research universities for a bachelor’s in communications.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Communications Degree

  1. #1

    Pomona College

    Claremont , CA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    7%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    2K

  2. #2

    Vassar College

    Poughkeepsie , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $63K

    Acceptance

    20%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1440/33

  3. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $58K

    Acceptance

    11%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1415/32

    Claremont McKenna College Communication Major:

    • Media Studies
    Source
  4. #5

    San Francisco State University

    San Francisco , CA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    93%

    Graduation

    54%

    Student body

    24K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1030/19

    San Francisco State University Communication Major:

    • Bachelor’s of Arts in Communication
    Source
  5. #6

    Ithaca College

    Ithaca , NY

    Tuition + fees

    $47K

    Acceptance

    78%

    Graduation

    77%

    Student body

    6K

    Ithaca College Communication Major Concentrations:

    • Integrated Marketing Communications
    • Communication Management and Design
    Source
  6. Tuition + fees

    $28K

    Acceptance

    96%

    Graduation

    51%

    Student body

    6K

    Columbia College Chicago Communication Major:

    • Bachelor’s of Arts in Communication
    Source
  7. #12

    College of the Ozarks

    Point Lookout , MO

    Tuition + fees

    $20K

    Acceptance

    21%

    Graduation

    63%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1165/23

    College of the Ozarks Communication Major Emphasis:

    • Electronic Media Production-Video
    • Electronic Media-Audio/Radio
    • Journalism
    • Public Relations
    • Speech Communication
    Source
  8. #14

    Scripps College

    Claremont , CA

    Tuition + fees

    $58K

    Acceptance

    30%

    Graduation

    82%

    Student body

    <1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1400/31

    Scripps College Communication Major:

    • Media Studies

    Scripps College Communication Major Concentrations:

    • Film/Video
    • Digital/Electronic Media
    • Critical Studies
    Source
  9. Tuition + fees

    $31K

    Acceptance

    80%

    Graduation

    64%

    Student body

    <1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1165/25

    Mills College Communication Major Concentrations:

    • Business Communication
    • Political Communication
    • Media & Cultural Studies
    Source
  10. #22

    Marist College

    Poughkeepsie , NY

    Tuition + fees

    $43K

    Acceptance

    60%

    Graduation

    82%

    Student body

    6K

    Marist College Communication Major Concentrations:

    • Advertising
    • Communication Studies
    • Journalism
    • Public Relations
    • Sports Communication
    Source

    Marist College’s Online Degrees

    BA in Management Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  11. #23

    Saint Joseph's University

    Philadelphia , PA

    Tuition + fees

    $48K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    83%

    Student body

    6K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1195/26

    Saint Joseph’s University Communication Major:

    • Bachelor’s of Arts in Communication Studies
    Source
  12. Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    94%

    Graduation

    57%

    Student body

    28K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1030/20

    California State University, Sacramento Communication Studies Major:

    • Communication Studies
    • Journalism
    • Film Studies

    Source

    California State University, Sacramento’s Online Degrees

    BS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 48
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Child Development
    • Required Credits: 50
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
    BA in Arts & Letters
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
    BS in Career and Technical Studies
    • Required Credits: 48
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AD to BNS in AD to BNS
    • Required Credits: 33
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online

Go to all Liberal Arts Colleges for Communications programs

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