Best Online Master’s in Communications

Published: Jun 22, 2021
Updated: Nov 22, 2023

Find top-ranked online master’s in communications degree programs to prepare students to apply for executive and managerial positions.

Key Takeaways

Master’s in communication programs prepare graduates to work as managers, directors, or college professors in higher education.
By enrolling in online programs, master’s in communications students can decide whether to study communication in general or focus on a particular subfield, such as political communication, strategic and organizational communication, or corporate and organizational communication.
In an online master of communications, learners acquire the competency unique to their industry or focus of study.

Top 10 Online Master's in Communications Degrees

University of Southern California
Syracuse University
Boston University
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Georgia
Florida State University
Fordham University
University of Alabama
University of North Texas
Texas Tech University

University of Southern California
Boston University
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Syracuse University
University of Georgia
Florida State University
Fordham University
University of Alabama
University of Kentucky
University of Delaware

University of Mississippi 97%
University of Kentucky 95%
Troy University 95%
University of Memphis 95%
Sam Houston State University 85%
State University of New York at Oswego 83%
St. Bonaventure University 81%
Northern Arizona University 80%
University of Alabama 80%
University of North Texas 79%

University of Central Florida 29 to 1
Florida International University 24 to 1
University of North Texas 23 to 1
Texas Tech University 21 to 1
Northern Arizona University 20 to 1
Sam Houston State University 20 to 1
University of Alabama 19 to 1
University of Georgia 17 to 1
Florida State University 17 to 1
University of Kentucky 17 to 1

University of Southern California $64,726
Boston University $62,360
Syracuse University $60,135
Fordham University $58,467
Baylor University $51,738
Drake University $47,742
St. Bonaventure University $38,770
Webster University $29,840
University of Delaware $13,370
University of Kentucky $11,496

University of Southern California $63,468
Boston University $61,050
Syracuse University $43,428
Baylor University $38,772
Fordham University $23,112
University of Delaware $17,622
St. Bonaventure University $14,520
Webster University $12,600
University of Kentucky $12,583
Drake University $11,878

Troy University
State University of New York at Oswego
Webster University
University of Memphis
University of Central Florida
St. Bonaventure University
Northern Arizona University
Drake University
Florida International University
University of Delaware

St. Bonaventure University
Troy University
State University of New York at Oswego
Webster University
Sam Houston State University
Northern Arizona University
Drake University
University of Memphis
University of Central Florida
University of North Texas

University of Southern California 12%
Boston University 14%
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 17%
Florida State University 25%
University of Central Florida 41%
University of Georgia 43%
Baylor University 46%
Syracuse University 52%
Fordham University 54%
Webster University 55%

University of Southern California 9 to 1
Drake University 10 to 1
Boston University 11 to 1
St. Bonaventure University 11 to 1
Webster University 12 to 1
Fordham University 14 to 1
Syracuse University 15 to 1
Baylor University 15 to 1
University of Delaware 15 to 1
University of Mississippi 16 to 1

University of Central Florida $4,478
Florida State University $4,640
Florida International University $4,721
Sam Houston State University $5,856
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill $7,019
State University of New York at Oswego $7,070
University of Nebraska–Lincoln $7,770
University of North Texas $8,295
University of Memphis $8,352
Texas Tech University $8,935

Sam Houston State University $5,765
University of Nebraska–Lincoln $6,138
University of North Texas $6,350
University of Central Florida $6,916
Texas Tech University $6,956
Troy University $8,550
University of Georgia $8,878
University of Mississippi $9,072
Florida International University $9,119
University of Memphis $9,378

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

A communications professional must master language’s subtleties and convey messages strategically. Whether you’re currently working in the communication or media sector or want to shift to a different career path altogether, enrolling in the best online master’s in communications can be a great tool in your arsenal.

A graduate degree in communications teaches students to take their skills to the next level, to become expert wordsmiths who can make words, ideas, and messages that cut through the crowd of competition and grab the intended audience’s attention.

Communication professionals are invaluable assets to any business or organization in today’s world of sensory overload, attention deficits, and competing messages. Consequently, the employment demand in the media and communication sectors is projected to increase by 6% between 2021 and 2031.

Advanced concepts in public relations, marketing, advertising, administration, political advocacy, journalism, and mass communication are the core courses in an online master’s in communication program, preparing graduates for even higher professional opportunities.

Job Occupations for Master’s in Communications Graduates

In addition to business administration, radio and television, digital media, marketing, traditional media, public relations, advertising, and government and public affairs, master’s degree in communications programs opens up many career opportunities.

Check out some jobs in the job market after finishing an online master’s in communications.

Advertising Manager

Media organizations sell ad space through advertising managers. They are in charge of creating promotional campaigns for a client or a highly advertised business.

They decide on the best medium for advertising initiatives, such as radio, web, print, television, and billboards. Market research is conducted, followed by an analysis of the results to identify prospects for firms in terms of consumers and markets.

Ethical Communicator

A communications professional who can speak with authority about ethics and values is a very important skill that businesses seek out. The work of an ethical communicator involves spreading a message of honesty and transparency both within and outside an organization.

Journalist

Despite the changing media landscape, traditional and contemporary journalists must have excellent communication skills and the knowledge to provide accurate information to the world.

Public Relations Manager

Much like public relations specialists, public relations managers handle publicity and work to enhance brand image. They communicate anything regarding the brand’s concept, ideas, and messages. Their roles include cultivating relationships with brand partners, sponsors, and customers.

Marketing Consultant

Marketing consultants assist companies in understanding their customers and creating effective strategic brand communication. One of the primary roles of a marketing consultant’s job is to conduct marketing campaigns. The effectiveness and efficiency of a marketing campaign are determined by how well it reaches targeted audiences.

Technical Communicator

The primary role of a technical communicator is to describe a product or service or explain how and when to use it, or describe the steps in a procedure. This communications professional performs a critical role in many companies worldwide.

Copywriter

Copywriting aims to inform people about the advantages of underlying products or services. All niches use copywriting services. These professionals work closely with editors and clients for feedback.

Businesses use the skills of copywriters to market their products and services, to build sales pages and e-mail sequences. These copywriting services are critical skills for many businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions About Communications Degrees

Professionals who earn their master’s in communications will advance their education and acquire marketable skills through more focused coursework.

Master’s communication programs are about 30 to 38 credits and typically take one to two years to complete depending on your area of specialization.

Students can take online or on-campus courses, and areas of concentration include conflict and mediation, family communication, rhetoric and argumentation, global strategy communications, public interest communications, and online communications.

Because of the more tailored curriculum, graduates will be prepared to apply for executive and managerial positions, such as marketing consultants, market research analysts, human resources managers, sales account executives, and learning and development analysts.

Learn more about what you can do with a master’s in communications.

How do we determine the best online communications master'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.

25 Best Online Master’s in Communications Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Students with Communications Degree

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Communication

Degree Level: Master's

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Cost of Degree*: $10,307
Avg. Expenses*: $16,362
Avg. Starting Salary*: $45,934
Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $57,594
Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 6 years
Job Growth: 2.98%
Number of Jobs: 920,200
* denotes ‘annually’
** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Public Relations Managers	5.97%	$119,176
Fundraising Managers	5.04%	$103,968
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary	3.57%	$72,568
Writers and Authors	3.70%	$65,547
Editors	-3.93%	$62,469
Public Relations Specialists	6.06%	$61,166
Media and Communication Workers, All Other	4.26%	$58,366
Fundraisers	5.24%	$57,772
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists	-3.25%	$48,039
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys	-11.43%	$40,804

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%	Median	Top 10%
$42,827	$69,084	$118,541

Promising Job Markets

State	Cost of Living	Avg. Salary
#2 New York	5% higher than average	$98,027
#3 Virginia	5% higher than average	$85,544
#4 California	26% higher than average	$108,436
#5 Georgia	13% higher than average	$69,820
#6 New Jersey	13% higher than average	$90,417
#7 Colorado	3% higher than average	$81,604
#8 North Carolina	11% higher than average	$69,787
#9 Delaware	2% higher than average	$80,274
#10 Michigan	15% higher than average	$66,387
#11 Ohio	14% higher than average	$66,826
#12 Rhode Island	20% higher than average	$92,402
#13 Missouri	16% higher than average	$64,833
#14 Texas	10% higher than average	$67,996
#15 Illinois	7% higher than average	$70,380
#16 Washington	7% higher than average	$80,754
#17 Pennsylvania	5% higher than average	$70,091
#18 Minnesota	4% higher than average	$69,964
#19 Kansas	9% higher than average	$65,718
#20 Indiana	11% higher than average	$63,582
#21 Iowa	9% higher than average	$64,775
#22 Kentucky	14% higher than average	$60,938
#23 Florida	6% higher than average	$66,736
#24 Wisconsin	7% higher than average	$65,853
#25 Massachusetts	24% higher than average	$86,808
#26 Tennessee	14% higher than average	$59,801
#27 New Mexico	7% higher than average	$64,708
#28 Utah	4% higher than average	$65,658
#29 District of Columbia	49% higher than average	$101,337
#30 Nevada	5% higher than average	$71,166
#31 Oklahoma	13% higher than average	$58,992
#32 Connecticut	18% higher than average	$79,393
#33 Alabama	13% higher than average	$57,920
#34 Nebraska	6% higher than average	$62,736
#35 Arizona	5% higher than average	$63,061
#36 Arkansas	16% higher than average	$54,974
#37 Maryland	18% higher than average	$76,816
#38 New Hampshire	13% higher than average	$73,061
#39 Idaho	7% higher than average	$59,673
#40 Montana	3% higher than average	$61,392
#41 Oregon	11% higher than average	$70,121
#42 North Dakota	average	$63,086
#43 Louisiana	9% higher than average	$56,497
#44 Mississippi	18% higher than average	$49,956
#45 West Virginia	11% higher than average	$53,683
#46 Maine	9% higher than average	$63,809
#47 South Carolina	8% higher than average	$53,713
#48 Alaska	23% higher than average	$71,334
#49 Vermont	13% higher than average	$63,449
#50 South Dakota	7% higher than average	$49,654
#51 Wyoming	2% higher than average	$49,347
#52 Hawaii	40% higher than average	$63,583

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Public Relations Managers	$119,176
Fundraising Managers	$103,968
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary	$72,568
Writers and Authors	$65,547
Editors	$62,469
Public Relations Specialists	$61,166
Media and Communication Workers, All Other	$58,366
Fundraisers	$57,772
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists	$48,039
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys	$40,804

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build 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 is actually getting there. Taking the commute out of the equation means getting to class should be a lot more manageable. But that’s where it ends. In general, your online courses will incorporate the very same materials, concepts, and testing methods as would a traditional classroom.

And 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 or working with remote learning technology for the first time, online college may even be a little more challenging for you. For a few insights on how to manage this new 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 institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. 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 which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students 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.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, 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. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

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 resume 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.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will 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 require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, 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 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.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Online Master’s in Communications

Key Takeaways

Top 10 Online Master's in Communications Degrees

Featured Programs

Job Occupations for Master’s in Communications Graduates

Advertising Manager

Ethical Communicator

Journalist

Public Relations Manager

Marketing Consultant

Technical Communicator

Copywriter

Frequently Asked Questions About Communications Degrees

Why get a master’s in communications?

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

What areas of concentration are there when getting a master’s in communications?

What kind of jobs can I get with a master’s in communications?

25 Best Online Master’s in Communications Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Communications degree at University of Southern California

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at Syracuse University

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Concentrations

Career Outlook for Communications degree at Boston University

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at University of Georgia

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Concentrations

Career Outlook for Communications degree at Florida State University

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at Fordham University

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at University of Alabama

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Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Communications degree at University of North Texas

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at Texas Tech University

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at University of Kentucky

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at Sam Houston State University

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at Baylor University

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Concentrations

Career Outlook for Communications degree at University of Mississippi

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at University of Nebraska–Lincoln

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at University of Delaware

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at Florida International University

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at Drake University

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at Northern Arizona University

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at St. Bonaventure University

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at University of Central Florida

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Concentrations

Career Outlook for Communications degree at University of Memphis

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at Webster University

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Career Outlook for Communications degree at State University of New York at Oswego

Online Degrees