Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you. If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degress you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no disctinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whehter you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are aynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find, well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees

By Dave Tomar and James Barham

Published: Nov 5, 2021
Updated: May 22, 2023

The best communications research universities 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 anthropology degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding anthropology faculty.

Top 10 Research Universities Communications Programs

University of California, Berkeley

87%

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

87%

Stanford University

86%

University of Michigan

83%

Cornell University

81%

New York University

81%

University of Pennsylvania

80%

University of California, Los Angeles

78%

Northwestern University

74%

Carnegie Mellon University

73%

American University

64%

Fordham University

58%

University of Washington

53%

University of Maryland, College Park

52%

George Washington University

50%

University of Georgia

40%

University of Florida

30%

University of Texas at Austin

29%

University of Michigan

20%

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

20%

University of Washington

20 to 1

University of California, Berkeley

19 to 1

University of California, Los Angeles

18 to 1

University of Georgia

17 to 1

University of Texas at Austin

17 to 1

University of Florida

17 to 1

University of Maryland, College Park

17 to 1

Fordham University

13 to 1

George Washington University

13 to 1

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

13 to 1

Brown University

$62,304

University of Pennsylvania

$61,710

University of Southern California

$61,503

Cornell University

$61,015

Northwestern University

$60,768

George Washington University

$59,870

Boston University

$59,816

Carnegie Mellon University

$58,924

Washington University in St. Louis

$58,866

Vanderbilt University

$56,966

Brown University

$60,944

University of Southern California

$60,446

Boston University

$58,560

Washington University in St. Louis

$57,750

Northwestern University

$56,067

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

$55,510

Stanford University

$54,315

Vanderbilt University

$51,600

Carnegie Mellon University

$46,441

$44,800

59%

60%

63%

University of Georgia

63%

Vanderbilt University

64%

George Washington University

66%

University of Maryland, College Park

66%

University of Florida

67%

Washington University in St. Louis

67%

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

67%

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Stanford University

University of Pennsylvania

Brown University

Vanderbilt University

Northwestern University

Cornell University

University of California, Los Angeles

11%

Emory University

13%

Washington University in St. Louis

13%

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

3 to 1

Stanford University

4 to 1

Carnegie Mellon University

5 to 1

Northwestern University

6 to 1

Brown University

6 to 1

University of Pennsylvania

6 to 1

Washington University in St. Louis

7 to 1

New York University

8 to 1

Vanderbilt University

8 to 1

University of Southern California

9 to 1

University of Florida

$4,477

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

$7,019

University of Maryland, College Park

$9,000

University of Georgia

$9,790

University of Washington

$10,927

University of California, Los Angeles

$11,442

University of California, Berkeley

$11,442

University of Texas at Austin

$11,752

University of Michigan

$16,865

American University

$53,334

University of Georgia

$8,878

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

$10,552

University of Florida

$10,770

University of California, Los Angeles

$11,442

University of California, Berkeley

$11,442

University of Texas at Austin

$12,050

University of Maryland, College Park

$15,360

University of Washington

$16,605

Fordham University

$23,112

University of Michigan

$24,902

Key Takeaways:

A communication bachelor’s degree is the 21^st most popular undergraduate degree across all student demographics. This program is offered at many colleges and universities, which means you’ll have numerous choices when searching for the best school.
A degree in communication is your pathway to countless job opportunities. Studying communication is a combination of balancing practical skills and theoretical concepts. Once you hone these skills, you’ll become one of the most sought-after professionals among various media outlets.
With a communications degree, you can pursue a career in journalism, mass communications, publishing, public relations, or editing, among others.

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

A bachelor’s degree in communications is an excellent starting point for a career in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, and a host of other exciting fields. As a communications major, you’ll study language, group dynamics, non-verbal interaction, and more. Majoring in communication can qualify you for a wide range of professional opportunities in business, education, mass media, and more.

A degree in communication may also prepare you for work as a technician in broadcast, film editing, and a host of other media-related technical roles. Exceptional communication skills could also qualify you for a leadership role in a variety of organizational settings. The best schools for communications are those which are regionally accredited, which offer a full array of communications concentrations, and which give you the chance to work with the best and most influential professors and classmates.

Degree popularity: Communication bachelor’s degrees are the 21th most popular undergraduate degrees across all student demographics. It’s slightly more popular among women, according to the number of degree earners reported by the National Center for Educational Statistics.

Why Communication Degrees Result in Excellent Careers

The digital era has drastically changed how people see the world and how they receive and access information. But why is a communications degree a good career choice? And what are the unique career opportunities that await you after completing this program?

You will become qualified for job opportunities that you never knew existed

Developing your communication skills can can prepare you for a traditional career in news, media, design, television, and more. But did you know there are also surprisingly interesting career paths you can achieve from communication programs?

A communications graduate could become a curator-in-chief, a story producer, or a music supervisor! Many unique job opportunities are available in the diverse world of communication.

You will make money

Communication and journalism are among the college majors with the highest earnings. Many degree holders in this field even pursue careers in politics or law.

Your ideas are valued

The field of communication is a very broad one. Many communications majors are creative. Creative people have some of the highest job satisfaction rates. They find their jobs interesting, make a lot of decisions, and find many opportunities to take the initiative.

You can work from anywhere

Entrepreneurship and freelancing are two scary words, but the rewards of working on your own and following your schedule outweigh the risks!

A degree in communication is great if you love traveling. Whether chasing a scoop or working on an assignment, freelance jobs in communication give you a chance to work remotely. All you really need is an Internet connection.

Designers, documentarians, wander lusters, and reporters alike all know how amazing it is to live this kind of lifestyle.

Common Areas of Study in Communications Degree Programs

Advertising and Marketing

This is the act of using communication as the primary means of promoting something like a brand, a product, an organization, or a business.

In a degree program in advertising and marketing communications, students are taught how to use an applicable communication theory and leverage the media to communicate with an audience effectively.

Usual topics of study in this program include:

audience identification
social media
digital marketing
marketing methods
business finance
public relations

Broadcasting

This program teaches students how to write, direct, and produce media content for distribution. Broadcasting refers to media that goes out to televisions, radio, and other streaming media services.

Communication Education

In this master’s degree program, students study how communication and information influence our education and culture. The drive is to understand better how education and communication intersect so students in this program can ultimately teach and handle courses related to communication.

Electronic and Digital Media Communication

This degree prepares college students to interrelate with the more modern forms of communication, including television, social media, and other internet-based devices.

Students will learn how to deliver stories using modern communication methods, like producing reports for television or producing videos for various websites. Usual career paths for electronic and digital media communication degree holders include video production, newscasting, photography, sports reporting, and radio programming.

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.

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.

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

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:

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you. If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).
Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degress you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no disctinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whehter you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.
Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are aynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.
The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

If you think a liberal arts college may be a better fit for you, see our ranking of the best liberal arts colleges for a bachelor’s in communication.

How do we determine the best communications research universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why we rank the best colleges and universities based on what we call “Influence”.

The influence of a college or university is based on the schools’s top academic influencers related to the discipline in this ranking. We track the influence of faculty and alumni affiliate with these school counting not only the publications and citations of the school’s affiliated people, but we also consider the overall web presence of the faculty and alumni. The greater the citations, authority of web links, web searches, and page views, the greater the individuals’s influence. Those combined make up the departments’s influence in the field of study. We believe tracking the academic influence of the people affiliated with a school is the best indicator of academic excellence.

If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and misused performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is more insulated from manipulation, and more reflective of real-world educational outcomes.