Becoming a confident public speaker and writer is the bread and butter of a Communications major. With over 900 colleges offering a Communications major (according to U.S. News & World Report), there is no shortage of options to choose from when it comes to which college to attend.
Communications is becoming a more popular career — per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in media and communications is projected to grow by 6% between 2021 and 2031. Many Communications majors go into a variety of fields such as journalism, public relations, teaching, and more. They are also great candidates for other fields that may not directly align with the major, such as government and politics, and business and industrial relations. According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual pay for Communications major jobs is $66,113 a year — right around the median income of $67,521 for the average U.S. citizen, according to 2020 data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Without further ado, here are the top five best colleges for Communications majors.
- Northwestern University
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Northwestern has an incredibly strong Communications program, with an emphasis on performance, research, clinical services, and scholarship and media creation. Northwestern’s communications program has graduated noteworthy alumni such as Stephen Colbert, Warren Beatty, Heather Headley, and more. Featured courses in the department at Northwestern include Theories of Persuasion, The Sociology of Online News, and Classical Rhetoric and Its Afterlives. The average early career pay for alumni is $61,600 a year and the average mid-year career pay is $128,100.
- University of Pennsylvania
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University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg school for Communications is one of the oldest in the nation, with an emphasis on communication systems, institutions, and processes. The major overlaps with other critical departments, such as political science, economics, and law — allowing students to branch out while receiving a robust education. Notable faculty at the college include Joe Biden and Christopher Yoo. The average early career pay for alumni is $69,9000 and the average mid-year career pay is $139,400.
- BOSTON UNIVERSITY
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Boston University’s College of Communication is the oldest public relations school in the country and offers a variety of degrees, including media science, advertising, and journalism. Many of their faculty include Pulitzer prize-winning journalists, top authors, and writers. Noteworthy alumni include Bonnie Hammer, vice chairman at NBCUniversal; Nancy Dubuc, CEO of VICE; and Kevin Merida, executive editor of the Los Angeles Times. The average early career pay for alumni is $59,300 and the average mid-year career pay is $133,900.
- Wake Forest University
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The Wake Forest department of communication uses a liberal arts approach, highlighting scholarship, creative production, and teaching. While the college is smaller than the majority of other top colleges for communications majors, that allows for student attention and a collaborative approach. Concentrations within the department include integrated communication strategies, communication science, media studies, public advocacy, and health communication. The average early career pay for alumni is $61,400 and the average mid-year career pay is $132,000.
- University of Southern California
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The USC Annenberg school for Communication and Journalism emphasizes the intersection of media, technology, and culture. The Anneberg school offers a Communication BA, Public Relations BA, and Journalism BA within their school. Being in a big city like Los Angeles offers plenty of opportunities to advance your studies, both during college and after. Notable alumni of USC Annenberg include Will Ferrell and Marc Brown. The average early career pay for alumni is $61,600 and the average mid-year career pay is $128,800.
