Best Online Associate in Communications
Find top-ranked online associate in communications degree programs to prepare students to enter the workforce as technical writers, broadcast technicians, public relations specialists, and marketing managers.
Top 10 Online Associate in Communications
- City College of San Francisco
- Montgomery College
- Seminole State College of Florida
- Andrew College
- Northern Virginia Community College
- Bucks County Community College
- Brigham Young University–Idaho
- Pima Community College
- College of Southern Nevada
- Washtenaw Community College
- Anne Arundel Community College
- City College of San Francisco
- Lone Star College System
- Northern Virginia Community College
- College of Southern Nevada
- Montgomery College
- Pima Community College
- Campbellsville University
- Brigham Young University–Idaho
- Seminole State College of Florida
- Coastline Community College 30 to 1
- Northern Virginia Community College 28 to 1
- Seminole State College of Florida 26 to 1
- Campbellsville University 23 to 1
- College of Southern Idaho 22 to 1
- Northwest Mississippi Community College 21 to 1
- Lone Star College System 21 to 1
- City College of San Francisco 20 to 1
- Brigham Young University–Idaho 19 to 1
- SUNY Broome Community College 19 to 1
- Campbellsville University $26,100
- Andrew College $18,214
- Colorado Christian University $17,476
- Montgomery College $8,070
- Anne Arundel Community College $7,920
- Bucks County Community College $7,920
- Southwestern Illinois College $6,120
- Community College of Baltimore County $5,784
- Northern Virginia Community College $5,412
- SUNY Broome Community College $5,280
- Colorado Christian University $13,931
- Campbellsville University $8,904
- Southwestern Illinois College
- Northwest Mississippi Community College
- College of Southern Idaho
- Coastline Community College
- SUNY Broome Community College
- Campbellsville University
- Monterey Peninsula College
- Western Wyoming Community College
- Austin Community College District
- Lone Star College System
- SUNY Broome Community College
- Western Wyoming Community College
- Bristol Community College
- Northwest Mississippi Community College
- Andrew College
- Bucks County Community College
- Community College of Baltimore County
- Southeast Community College
- Washtenaw Community College
- Southwestern Illinois College
- Andrew College 7 to 1
- Southeast Community College 11 to 1
- Western Wyoming Community College 12 to 1
- Bucks County Community College 13 to 1
- Bristol Community College 14 to 1
- Community College of Baltimore County 14 to 1
- Anne Arundel Community College 16 to 1
- Colorado Christian University 16 to 1
- Montgomery College 16 to 1
- Southwestern Illinois College 17 to 1
- Bristol Community College $576
- Coastline Community College $1,104
- Monterey Peninsula College $1,104
- Austin Community College District $2,010
- Pima Community College $2,136
- Seminole State College of Florida $2,393
- Western Wyoming Community College $2,520
- Southeast Community College $2,856
- Northwest Mississippi Community College $3,200
- College of Southern Nevada $3,383
- Campbellsville University $8,904
- Colorado Christian University $13,931
Key Takeaways
- The associate degree in communications is an affordable way to get started on your college education. The typical associate degree will take about two years to complete.
- Many community colleges and two-year schools offer both traditional and online degree programs for students pursuing their associate degree in communications.
- Earning an online associate degree in communications can prepare you for a variety of entry level jobs in your field. Many students also continue into a bachelor’s degree program in communications or a related area.
Featured Programs
An associate degree in communications can help you get your foot in the door in the fields of business, human resources, marketing, public relations, and media. Strong communication skills are extremely valuable in a wide variety of professional sectors. Your technical writing, organizational communication, and public speaking skills will qualify you to work in a broad range of professional settings.
Back to TopStudents completing the communication studies program will typically be required to complete 60 credits in subjects like intercultural communication, mass media, professional communications, communications law, and more. Students completing the associate degree program will typically begin with a focus on communication theory and communication ethics. The associate’s degree in communications also helps students hone their use of both their written communication skills and public speaking skills. Most community colleges offer both an on-campus and online associate degree in communications.
Back to TopEarning an online associate degree in communications will prepare you to work as a technical writer, broadcast technician, public relations specialist, marketing manager, and more. Many community college programs also offer a bachelor’s degree pathway for those looking to continue on to a four-year degree in communications.
Back to TopLearn more about how to major in communications.
An associate degree is a great way for many to start their educational journey, but you may want to also consider an online bachelor’s in communications.
25 Best Online Associate in Communications Degree Programs
- #5 50 Best Community Colleges for Future Success in 2025 #4 Best Community Colleges in California 2025 #1 Best Online Associate in Sociology #2 Best Online Associate Degrees in California 2025
Other Rankings
- #2 Best Online Associate in Gender Studies
- #2 Best Online Associate in Mathematics 2025
- #3 Best Online Associate in Economics
- #3 Best Online Associate's in General Science 2025
- #3 Best Online Associate in Computer Science Degree Programs 2025
- #6 Best Online Associate in Liberal Arts 2025
- #8 Best Online Associate in Information Technology
- #23 Best Online Associate in Business Administration
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
37%
Student body
27K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at City College of San Francisco
Cost of Degree: $1,696Starting Salary: $30,218Salary after 4 years: $38,747Online Degrees
AA in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Concentrations
- Communication
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #24 50 Best Community Colleges for Future Success in 2025 #2 Best Community Colleges in Maryland 2025 #2 Best Online Associate Degrees in Maryland 2025 #9 Best Online Associate's in General Science 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$10K
Graduation
28%
Student body
24K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at Montgomery College
Cost of Degree: $10,398Starting Salary: $33,254Salary after 4 years: $42,640Online Degrees
AA in General Studies
Concentrations
- Humanities
- Arts
- Communication And Languages
- Social Sciences
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Online Associate's in Physics 2025 #4 Best Online Associate in Entrepreneurship #5 Best Online Associate in Small Business Management #5 Best Online Associate in Business Management
Other Rankings
- #5 Best Online Associate in Building and Construction Degree Programs
- #10 Best Online Associate in Health Science Degree Programs
- #10 Best Online Associate Degrees in Florida 2025
- #11 Best Online Associate in Marketing
- #18 Best Online Associate in Business Management
- #22 Best Online Colleges in Florida 2025
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
43%
Student body
21K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at Seminole State College of Florida
Cost of Degree: $3,227Starting Salary: $25,374Salary after 4 years: $32,536Online Degrees
AA in Telecommunications Media and Society Pathway
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Online Associate in Agribusiness Degree Programs 2025 #9 Best Online Associate Degrees in Georgia 2025
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
50%
Graduation
24%
Student body
<1K
Online Degrees
AA in Communication
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #19 50 Best Community Colleges for Future Success in 2025 #1 Best Community Colleges in Virginia 2025 #4 Best Online Associate Degrees in Virginia 2024 #5 Best Online Associate in English 2025
Other Rankings
- #7 Best Online Associate's in General Science 2025
- #7 Best Online Associate in Health Science Degree Programs
- #7 Best Online Associate in Computer Science Degree Programs 2025
- #7 Best Online Associate in Mathematics 2025
- #11 Best Online Associate in Cybersecurity
- #11 Best Online Associate in Accounting 2025
- #12 Best Online Associate in Information Technology
- #22 Best Online Associate in General Studies
- #23 Best Online Associate in Business Management
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
35%
Student body
69K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at Northern Virginia Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,703Starting Salary: $34,122Salary after 4 years: $43,752Online Degrees
AA in Liberal Arts
Concentrations
- Communication Studies
- Required Credits: 60-62
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Community Colleges in Pennsylvania 2025 #8 Best Online Associate Degrees in Pennsylvania 2024 #11 Best Online Associate in Emergency Management 2025 #12 Best Online Associate in Fire Science Degree Programs
Other Rankings
- #16 Best Online Associate's in History Degrees 2025
- #18 Best Online Associate in Entrepreneurship
- #20 Best Online Associate in English 2025
- #20 Best Online Associate in Computer Science Degree Programs 2025
- #23 Best Online Associate in Small Business Management
- #23 Best Online Associate in Business Management
Tuition + fees
$9K
Graduation
25%
Student body
10K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at Bucks County Community College
Cost of Degree: $9,184Starting Salary: $30,579Salary after 4 years: $39,210Online Degrees
AA in Communication Studies
- Required Credits: 62
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Idaho 2025 #1 Best Private Colleges in Idaho 2024 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Idaho 2024 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Idaho 2025
Other Rankings
- #4 Best Colleges in Idaho 2024
- #2 Top 20 Easiest Online Degrees from Accredited Schools in 2024
- #5 Best Online Associate Degrees in Idaho 2025
- #6 Best Online Colleges in Idaho 2024
- #7 Top 10 Best Online Bachelor's of Web Design Degree Programs 2025
- #7 Most Affordable Online Associate Degree Programs Ranked for 2025
- #20 Best Online Associate in Business Management
Tuition + fees
$5K
Acceptance
96%
Graduation
54%
Student body
59K
Median SAT/ACT
1095/22
Online Degrees
AS in Communication
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Community Colleges in Arizona 2025 #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Arizona 2025 #3 Best Online Associate in Biology #4 Best Online Associate in Political Science 2025
Other Rankings
- #6 Best Online Associate in Gender Studies
- #7 Best Online Associate in Anthropology
- #9 Best Online Associate's in History Degrees 2025
- #9 Best Online Associate in Sociology
- #12 Best Online Associate in English 2025
- #13 Best Online Associate's in General Science 2025
- #15 Best Online Associate in Education
- #17 Best Online Associate in Cybersecurity
- #17 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics
- #18 Best Online Associate in Liberal Arts 2025
- #21 Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
18%
Student body
32K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at Pima Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,370Starting Salary: $25,302Salary after 4 years: $32,443Online Degrees
AA in Liberal Arts
Concentrations
- General
- Administration of Justice
- Anthropology
- Biology
- Communication
- Early Childhood Education
- Elementary Education
- English
- Ethnic
- Gender and Transborder Studies
- Fashion Design
- History
- Political Science
- Social Services
- Sociology
- Translation and Interpretation Studies
- Required Credits: 60-64
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Nevada 2025 #1 Best Community Colleges in Nevada 2025 #3 Best Public Colleges in Nevada 2024 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Nevada 2024
Other Rankings
- #3 Best Colleges in Nevada 2024
- #5 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
- #1 Best Online Associate Degrees in Nevada 2025
- #1 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Nevada
- #1 Best Online Associate in Hospitality and Tourism
- #3 Best Online Colleges in Nevada 2024
- #4 Best Online Associate in Web Design
- #5 Best Online Associate's in History Degrees 2025
- #6 Best Online Associate in Software Development
- #7 Best Online Associate in English 2025
- #7 Best Online Associate in Education
- #9 Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education
- #12 Best Online Associate in Business Management
- #14 Best Online Associate in Accounting 2025
- #21 Best Online Associate in Sociology
- #22 Best Online Associate in Information Technology
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
17%
Student body
40K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at College of Southern Nevada
Cost of Degree: $4,110Starting Salary: $27,037Salary after 4 years: $34,668Online Degrees
AA in Communication
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Community Colleges in Michigan 2025 #12 Best Online Associate Degrees in Michigan 2024 #13 Best Online Associate in Education
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
28%
Student body
19K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at Washtenaw Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,584Starting Salary: $25,013Salary after 4 years: $32,073Online Degrees
AA in Liberal Arts
Concentrations
- Communication
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
AA in Technical Communication
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #3 50 Best Community Colleges for Future Success in 2025 #1 Best Community Colleges in Maryland 2025 #1 Best Online Associate in English 2025 #1 Best Online Associate in Gender Studies
Other Rankings
- #1 Best Online Associate Degrees in Maryland 2025
- #1 Best Online Associate in Computer Science Degree Programs 2025
- #6 Best Online Associate in Cybersecurity
- #7 Best Online Associate in General Studies
- #9 Best Online Associate in Human Resources
- #10 Best Online Associate in Finance
- #10 Best Online Associate in Small Business Management
- #10 Best Online Associate in Business Management
- #11 Best Online Associate in Psychology
- #18 Best Online Associate in Marketing
Tuition + fees
$9K
Graduation
27%
Student body
15K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at Anne Arundel Community College
Cost of Degree: $8,186Starting Salary: $30,507Salary after 4 years: $39,117Online Degrees
AAS in Business Management
Concentrations
- Business Communications
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
31%
Student body
13K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at Southeast Community College
Cost of Degree: $3,388Expenses: $12,745Starting Salary: $29,061Salary after 4 years: $37,264Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AA in Business Communications
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Community Colleges in Massachusetts 2025 #5 Best Online Associate Degrees in Massachusetts 2025 #22 Best Online Associate in Liberal Arts 2025 #22 Best Online Associate in Psychology
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
22%
Student body
8K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at Bristol Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,412Starting Salary: $25,374Salary after 4 years: $32,536Online Degrees
AA in Communication
- Required Credits: 61-63
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Christian Colleges in Colorado 2025 #7 Best Private Colleges in Colorado 2025 #1 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Colorado #2 Best Online Associate in Psychology
Other Rankings
- #4 Best Online Associate Degrees in Colorado 2025
- #5 How To Get an Online Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies
- #5 Best Online Colleges in Colorado 2024
- #6 Best Online Associate in Human Resources
- #8 Best Online MBA Programs in Colorado
- #10 Fastest Accelerated Online Bachelor's of Accounting Programs 2025
- #10 Best Online Associate in Biblical Studies
- #11 Best Online Bachelor’s of Counseling Degree Programs for 2025
- #13 Best Online Bachelor’s of Data Science and Analytics Degree Programs for 2024
- #13 Best Online Associate in Marketing
- #14 Best Online Bachelor’s of Data Science and Analytics Degree Programs for 2024
- #14 Best Online Bachelor’s in Biblical Studies
- #15 Best Online Bachelor's in Network Administration Degree Programs for 2024
- #19 Best Online Bachelor's of Economics Degree Programs for 2024
- #19 Best Online Master's in Economics 2025
- #21 Best Online Bachelor’s of Christian Ministry Degree Programs for 2025
- #21 Best Online Associate in Information Technology
- #12 Fastest Online Associate's of Business Degree Programs Ranked 2025
- #19 Top 20 Fastest Accelerated Online Bachelor's in Counseling 2025
Tuition + fees
$18K
Graduation
61%
Student body
16K
Online Degrees
AA in Communication Studies
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #6 Best Schools for Becoming an Air Traffic Controller in 2024 #3 Best Community Colleges in Maryland 2025 #1 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Maryland 2025
Other Rankings
- #5 Best Online Associate in Human Services
- #7 Best Online Associate in Cybersecurity
- #8 Best Online Associate in Anthropology
- #12 Best Online Associate's in History Degrees 2025
- #13 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics
- #15 Best Online Associate in Computer Science Degree Programs 2025
- #16 Best Online Associate in English 2025
- #16 Best Online Associate in Economics
- #16 Best Online Associate in Information Technology
- #18 Best Online Associate in Accounting 2025
- #21 Best Online Associate in Psychology
- #21 Best Online Associate in Business Management
- #22 Best Online Associate in Sociology
- #9 Fastest Accelerated Online Associate's of Counseling Degree Programs
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
16%
Student body
23K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at Community College of Baltimore County
Cost of Degree: $6,918Starting Salary: $27,977Salary after 4 years: $35,873Online Degrees
AA in Communication And Media Studies
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #7 50 Best Community Colleges for Future Success in 2025 #1 Best Community Colleges in Texas 2025 #2 Best Online Associate Degrees in Texas 2024 #3 Best Online Associate in Human Resources
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
18%
Student body
103K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at Lone Star College System
Cost of Degree: $5,544Starting Salary: $29,495Salary after 4 years: $37,820Online Degrees
AA in Speech Communication
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #6 Best Online Associate in Philosophy #7 Best Online Associate in Software Development #9 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Texas 2025 #12 Best Online Associate Degrees in Texas 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$9K
Graduation
14%
Student body
57K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at Austin Community College District
Cost of Degree: $8,580Starting Salary: $29,134Salary after 4 years: $37,356Online Degrees
AS in Business, Government and Technical Communication
Concentrations
- Social Media Communications
- Business and Government Communications
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
AA in Communications
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Community Colleges in Wyoming 2025 #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Wyoming 2025 #18 Best Online Associate in Software Development
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
34%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at Western Wyoming Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,250Expenses: $12,610Starting Salary: $27,832Salary after 4 years: $35,688Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AA in Communication
- Required Credits: 64
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #13 Best Online Associate Degrees in California 2025 #14 Best Online Associate in Economics #18 Best Online Associate's in General Science 2025
Tuition + fees
$1K
Graduation
27%
Student body
10K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at Monterey Peninsula College
Cost of Degree: $1,188Starting Salary: $28,555Salary after 4 years: $36,615Online Degrees
AA in General Studies
Concentrations
- Communication and Analytical Thinking
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Christian Colleges in Kentucky 2024 #7 Best Grad Schools in Kentucky 2025 #10 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #5 Best Online Associate Degrees in Kentucky 2024
Other Rankings
- #6 Best Online Associate in Education
- #9 Best Online MBA Programs in Kentucky
- #9 Best Online Associate in Christian Ministry
- #10 Top 10 Best Online Bachelor's of Nursing (BSN) Programs 2025
- #14 Best Online Master's in Theology 2025
- #18 Best Online Bachelor’s of Christian Ministry Degree Programs for 2025
- #20 Best Online Associate in Criminal Justice
- #24 Best Online Master’s in Educational Administration
- #25 Best Online Bachelor's in Social Work Degree Programs Ranked for 2025
- #10 Fastest Online Associate's of Business Degree Programs Ranked 2025
Tuition + fees
$26K
Graduation
41%
Student body
17K
Online Degrees
AS in Mass Communication
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
22%
Student body
7K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at SUNY Broome Community College
Cost of Degree: $7,470Expenses: $18,400Starting Salary: $25,374Salary after 4 years: $32,536Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AS in Visual Communication Arts
- Required Credits: 62
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Online Associate in French Degree Programs #6 Best Online Associate in Building and Construction Degree Programs #11 Best Online Associate in Economics #11 Best Online Associate in Biology
Other Rankings
- #12 Best Online Associate in Human Services
- #12 Best Online Associate in Entrepreneurship
- #14 Best Online Associate in Human Resources
- #15 Best Online Associate's in Physics 2025
- #16 Best Online Associate in Small Business Management
- #16 Best Online Associate in Business Management
- #18 Best Online Associate in Sociology
- #20 Most Affordable Online Associate Degree Programs Ranked for 2025
- #20 Best Online Associate in Psychology
- #22 Best Online Associate Degrees in California 2025
- #22 Best Online Associate in Marketing
- #22 Best Online Associate in Education
- #24 Best Online Associate in Cybersecurity
- #25 Best Online Associate in Emergency Management 2025
- #25 Best Online Associate in Information Technology
Tuition + fees
$1K
Graduation
23%
Student body
14K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at Coastline Community College
Cost of Degree: $1,180Starting Salary: $31,158Salary after 4 years: $39,952Online Degrees
AA-T in Communication Studies
Concentrations
- Transfer
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
AS in Communication Studies
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
AA in Liberal Arts
Concentrations
- Communications
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Community Colleges in Idaho 2025 #3 Best Online Associate in American Sign Language (ASL) Degree Programs #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Idaho 2025 #4 Best Online Associate in Biology
Other Rankings
- #5 Best Online Associate's in Physics 2025
- #6 Best Online Associate in Anthropology
- #7 Best Online Associate in Political Science 2025
- #8 Best Online Associate in Entrepreneurship
- #9 Best Online Associate in Emergency Management 2025
- #10 Best Online Associate in Economics
- #11 Best Online Associate in Small Business Management
- #11 Best Online Associate in Business Management
- #13 Best Online Associate in Health Science Degree Programs
- #14 Best Online Associate's in General Science 2025
- #14 Best Online Associate's in History Degrees 2025
- #16 Best Online Associate in Mathematics 2025
- #17 Best Online Associate in Computer Science Degree Programs 2025
- #18 Best Online Associate in English 2025
- #22 Best Online Associate in Fire Science Degree Programs
- #25 Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education
- #25 Best Online Associate in Education
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
31%
Student body
14K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at College of Southern Idaho
Cost of Degree: $4,560Expenses: $11,188Starting Salary: $24,362Salary after 4 years: $31,238Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AA in Communication
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #6 Best Community Colleges in Mississippi 2025 #4 Best Online Associate Degrees in Mississippi 2025 #8 Best Online Associate in Paralegal Studies
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
38%
Student body
9K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at Northwest Mississippi Community College
Cost of Degree: $3,660Expenses: $9,815Starting Salary: $23,061Salary after 4 years: $29,570Cost Recoup Time: 6 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AS in Marketing Communication And Public Relations Management
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
28%
Student body
14K
Career Outlook for Communications degree at Southwestern Illinois College
Cost of Degree: $6,390Starting Salary: $22,194Salary after 4 years: $28,457Online Degrees
AAS in Graphic Communications
- Required Credits: 63-65
- Completion time: 2 Years
- Format: Online
Career Outlook for Students with Communications Degree
Go to Degree Finder toolCommunication
Degree Level: Associate's
- Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
- Avg. Cost of Degree*: $4,153
- Avg. Expenses*: $15,121
- Avg. Starting Salary*: $27,373
- Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $35,099
- Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 7 years
- Job Growth: 4.14%
- Number of Jobs: 926,700
- * denotes ‘annually’
- ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’
Career Salaries
Career | Job Growth | Avg. Salary |
---|---|---|
Public Relations Managers | 6.89% | $134,760 |
Fundraising Managers | 6.02% | $119,200 |
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 3.43% | $79,910 |
Editors | -2.01% | $75,020 |
Writers and Authors | 5.11% | $73,690 |
Top Industries
Industry | Avg. Salary |
---|---|
Public Relations Managers | $134,760 |
Fundraising Managers | $119,200 |
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,910 |
Online Communications Programs Looking for You
Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions
If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.
No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?
If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.
In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.
Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.
Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.
As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.
In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.
Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.
If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).
While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.
The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.
Resources for Online College-Bound Students
Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.