Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Alabama
Ranked by graduate earnings
The University of Alabama, Auburn University and Jacksonville State University are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Alabama by graduate earnings. The University of Alabama leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,790, College Scorecard. The University of Alabama, Auburn University and University of Alabama at Birmingham award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Alabama: 249, 99 and 93 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Alabama colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 706 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Communication and Media Studies program focuses on the processes of human communication and behavior, exploring how individuals and groups exchange ideas and information across various media. This program is designed for students…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,790 | 249 | 73% | — | $25,000 |
| 2 | Auburn University Auburn Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,929 | 99 | 82% | — | $20,675 |
| 3 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,147 | 30 | 55% | — | $24,750 |
| 4 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,190 | 93 | 64% | — | $26,000 |
| 5 | University of North Alabama Florence Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,182 | 27 | 55% | — | $21,000 |
| 6 | University of South Alabama Mobile Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,153 | 28 | 53% | — | $26,000 |
| 7 | Alabama State University Montgomery Public · Bachelor's degree | $21,996 | 25 | 30% | — | $32,750 |
| 8 | Samford University Birmingham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,690 | 15 | 77% | $28,160 | — |
| 9 | Troy University Troy Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,154 | 19 | 50% | — | $23,250 |
| 10 | Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,354 | 10 | 33% | — | $27,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Alabama
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Public | 249 | $40,790 |
| 2 | Auburn University Auburn Public | 99 | $35,929 |
| 3 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham Public | 93 | $33,190 |
| 4 | University of West Alabama Livingston Public | 45 | Not reported |
| 5 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville Public | 30 | $35,147 |
| 6 | University of South Alabama Mobile Public | 28 | $30,153 |
| 7 | University of North Alabama Florence Public | 27 | $30,182 |
| 8 | Alabama State University Montgomery Public | 25 | $21,996 |
| 9 | University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 10 | Troy University Troy Public | 19 | $33,154 |
ShowHide the other 10 Alabama colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samford University | Birmingham | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery | Public | 10 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Alabama A & M University | Normal | Public | 5 |
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Oakwood University | Huntsville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Columbia Southern University (Online) | Orange Beach | Private for-profit | 2 |
| Talladega College | Talladega | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Alabama
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Alabama.
Which Alabama colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
The University of Alabama (249 graduates a year), Auburn University (99 graduates a year) and University of Alabama at Birmingham (93 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Alabama, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Alabama colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Alabama?+
By graduate earnings, The University of Alabama leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Alabama, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,790, College Scorecard. Auburn University and Jacksonville State University follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Alabama is the largest, with 249 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Alabama has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, The University of Alabama tops the list at $40,790. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Alabama?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Alabama is $70,760 (median $61,710), across about 2,410 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Communication and Media Studies program?+
The Communication and Media Studies program focuses on the processes of human communication and behavior, exploring how individuals and groups exchange ideas and information across various media. This program is designed for students…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, speaking, writing, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Public Relations Specialists?+
The national job outlook is about +4.8% growth with around 27,600 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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