Best Online Bachelor’s of Communications Degree Programs for 2023

BEST ONLINE BACHELOR'S IN COMMUNICATIONS

Published: Jun 22, 2021
Updated: Sep 9, 2023

Find top-ranked online bachelor’s in communications degree programs to prepare students to work as editors, copywriters, communications specialists, social media managers, reporters and correspondents, as well as public relations specialists.

Key Takeaways

Communications is a broad discipline, but several specific career tracks are in store for graduates, considering the increasing need for specialists in this area of study.
Strong skills in research, writing, and speaking, as well knowledge of modern communication devices and tools, are expected of holders of a communications degree.
The technical and soft skills that a communications major obtains are highly sought-after by employers across all industries.

Top 10 Online Bachelor's in Communication Degrees

University of Iowa
University of Arizona
University of Missouri
University of Cincinnati
Arizona State University
University of Kentucky
University of South Carolina
University of Louisville
Loyola University Chicago
Texas Tech University

University of Texas at El Paso 100%
Sam Houston State University 97%
University of Memphis 95%
East Carolina University 94%
University of Kentucky 94%
Missouri State University 94%
Arizona State University 88%
University of Arizona 87%
University of Iowa 86%
University of Cincinnati 85%

University of Central Florida 31 to 1
Florida International University 25 to 1
Northern Arizona University 22 to 1
University of Texas at El Paso 21 to 1
Sam Houston State University 21 to 1
Missouri State University 20 to 1
Texas Tech University 19 to 1
East Carolina University 19 to 1
University of Cincinnati 19 to 1
University of Louisville 19 to 1

Loyola University Chicago $47,808
Drake University $45,912
Simmons University $43,062
Mercer University $38,746
Webster University $28,700
University of Rhode Island $13,250
University of South Carolina $12,288
University of Louisville $12,174
University of Kentucky $11,247
University of Arizona $10,990

Simmons University $21,384
Loyola University Chicago $18,990
Mercer University $15,244
University of Rhode Island $14,454
University of South Carolina $13,734
University of Louisville $13,524
Webster University $13,500
University of Cincinnati $13,224
University of Kentucky $12,311
University of Arizona $12,106

Simmons University
Missouri State University
State University of New York at Oswego
Webster University
Northern Arizona University
Sam Houston State University
Drake University
University of Texas at El Paso
East Carolina University
University of Alaska Fairbanks

University of Central Florida 36%
Webster University 59%
University of South Carolina 62%
Florida International University 64%
University of Alaska Fairbanks 65%
Texas Tech University 68%
Drake University 69%
Mercer University 75%
University of Louisville 75%
University of Rhode Island 76%

Simmons University 9 to 1
Drake University 10 to 1
University of Alaska Fairbanks 11 to 1
Webster University 12 to 1
Loyola University Chicago 14 to 1
Mercer University 14 to 1
University of Arizona 15 to 1
University of Iowa 16 to 1
University of Kentucky 16 to 1
University of Memphis 16 to 1

East Carolina University $4,452
University of Central Florida $4,478
Florida International University $4,721
Sam Houston State University $5,856
State University of New York at Oswego $7,070
Missouri State University $7,196
University of Alaska Fairbanks $7,296
University of Texas at El Paso $7,704
University of Memphis $8,352
University of Iowa $8,356

East Carolina University $4,749
Missouri State University $5,760
Sam Houston State University $5,765
University of Texas at El Paso $5,865
University of Central Florida $6,916
Texas Tech University $6,956
Florida International University $8,912
University of Memphis $9,378
University of Missouri $9,950
University of Iowa $10,432

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Here’s All You Need To Know About Communications as a Degree

An online bachelor’s in communications is a flexible format for busy professionals who wish to reach their goals. Many of the best institutions now offer online programs, so it’s easier than ever to find a top-notch online communications program.

An online communications degree program is also a great option for working professionals. The online format is able to accommodate busy schedules.

In an online communications degree, you’ll gain a comprehensive foundation in different fields together with progressive training in communication. This degree is designed to help strengthen your research, writing, and interpersonal abilities. After you earn your online bachelor’s in communications, you can pursue different opportunities in business communication, public relations, editing, and writing.

Careers in Bachelor’s in Communications Degree

Public Relations Specialist: Help your clients build and maintain a positive public image. You create press releases, make speeches, and respond to inquiries to shape how the public views your client. You also help your client effectively communicate their accomplishments and missions. With experience, you can advance to a public relations manager.
Editor: Create content ideas and work with other writers in revising materials for publication. You can specialize in different areas like executive editing, fact-checking, and copy editing. There are also editors that assess submissions before they make publishing decisions, while others focus purely on enhancing copy for publication.
Advertising Sales Agent: Ad sales agents sell advertising space to both businesses and individuals. This career requires a combination of visual, written, and oral communications skills. Knowledge of sales and marketing is also a plus. Advertising sales agents are the point of contact for clients from the sales pitch to maintaining accounts.
Professional Writer: Create content for books, magazines, entertainment venues, and other media. They concentrate on areas like script writing, copywriting, and biographical writing, and there are those that focus on content writing. Professional writers rely heavily on communication and research skills to create readable, accurate, and compelling work.
Technical Writer: These communications degree holders create instructional content for technical products and services. They create manuals, how-to guides, and documentation procedures, to name a few. Technical writers also manage research on user needs. They often work with engineers and developers to describe products as clearly as possible.

Choosing the Right Online Bachelor’s in Communications

Cost: Data from the Education Data Initiative showed that in 2021, the online costs of an average bachelor’s degree in communication is $51,000. In-state colleges typically have smaller tuition costs, and private institutions are the costliest.

Program Format: Online communications degree programs offer the option of enrolling full-time or part-time. Some schools also offer accelerated bachelor’s programs.

Online programs are also offered in a synchronous or asynchronous format. A synchronous format requires students to meet at a scheduled time, often for live lectures.

An asynchronous format allows students to access their class at any time that is convenient for them. These types of programs often utilize pre-recorded lectures.

Location: Even if you’re enrolled in an online communications program, the location of the school still matters. Enrolling in an online class at a nearby school gives you easy access to meet with classmates or faculty when needed. You can even join networking events and participate in local partnerships with employers.

Accreditation: Online students should make it a point to check the school’s accreditation. Regionally accredited schools have met the high standards for academic excellence. The student learning outcomes of schools are evaluated by independent agencies, along with the school’s academic standards and faculty qualifications. Attending a regionally accredited school guarantees that you get the best out of your education.

Frequently Asked Questions About Communications Degrees

Why get a bachelor’s in communications?

A bachelor’s degree in communication paves the way for an array of career options and provides students with a comprehensive education.

What courses will I take when getting a bachelor’s in communications?

Students can expect to take courses in interpersonal communication, persuasion, communication theory, crisis communication, nonverbal communication, and political communication.

How long does it take to get a bachelor’s in communications?

Most programs, whether online or on-campus, are 120 credits and typically take about four years to complete for full-time students.

Many online communications degree programs also offer asynchronous classes so that you can earn credits on your schedule.

What can I do with a bachelor’s in communications?

Those who graduate with a bachelor’s in communication are prepared to work as editors, copywriters, communications specialists, social media managers, reporters and correspondents, as well as public relations specialists.

Learn more about how to major in communications.

How do we determine the best online communications bachelor's degree programs?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, 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 arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Online Bachelor of Communications: Our Ranking Process

Many colleges across the United States offer communications as a degree program, but in terms of academic quality, not all of them live up to expectations!

The online communication degree programs on our list stand out because their curricula emphasize the technical aspects of “communicating” in the modern era while cultivating in each student the soft skills that make an excellent professional in media and communication occupations.

Though facilitated on a web-based format, the online programs on our list are taught by professors who have demonstrated excellence as professionals in this field or contributed to it through published work. They are seasoned instructors at the undergraduate level, but most of them hold terminal degrees in communications.

Accreditation is a key factor that proves an online bachelor’s degree communication program or online college’s adherence to the ruling standards of instruction. The schools on our list are all regionally accredited by academic organizations

Median Salaries of Similar Careers in the U.S.

The following graph depicts the average salaries of similar occupations to Editors in the U.S.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Annual Salary

63230News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists

73250Public Relations Specialists

76400Editors

81120Writers and Authors

81470Technical Writers

25 Best Online Bachelor’s in Communications Degree Programs

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.

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.

Best Online Bachelor’s of Communications Degree Programs for 2023

Key Takeaways

Top 10 Online Bachelor's in Communication Degrees

Featured Programs

Here’s All You Need To Know About Communications as a Degree

Careers in Bachelor’s in Communications Degree

Choosing the Right Online Bachelor’s in Communications

Frequently Asked Questions About Communications Degrees

Why get a bachelor’s in communications?

What courses will I take when getting a bachelor’s in communications?

How long does it take to get a bachelor’s in communications?

What can I do with a bachelor’s in communications?

Online Bachelor of Communications: Our Ranking Process

Median Salaries of Similar Careers in the U.S.

25 Best Online Bachelor’s in Communications Degree Programs

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Online Communications Programs Looking for You

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect from an online college course?+

Is online college easier than campus-based college?+

Why does accreditation matter in online college?+

Will I be able to transfer my online college degree?+

Will employers respect my online degree?+

What are the disadvantages of online classes?+

What are the advantages of online classes?+

Resources for Online College-Bound Students