Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Arizona
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University and Grand Canyon University are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Arizona by graduate earnings. University of Arizona leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,993, College Scorecard. Arizona State University Campus Immersion, Grand Canyon University and University of Arizona award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Arizona: 370, 363 and 283 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 Arizona colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 2,065 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 7 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 | University of Arizona Tucson Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,993 | 283 | 68% | — | $19,750 |
| 2 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,491 | 75 | 61% | — | $19,375 |
| 3 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,507 | 363 | 43% | $21,535 | $27,000 |
| 4 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler Public · Bachelor's degree Online Small program | $58,089 | 7 | 11% | $26,445 | $37,188 |
| 5 | University of Phoenix-Arizona Phoenix Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $47,919 | 231 | 21% | $15,478 | $45,000 |
| 6 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale Public · Bachelor's degree Online | $44,571 | 604 | 0% | — | $22,500 |
| 7 | Ottawa University - Surprise Surprise Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,465 | 17 | 18% | $34,373 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Arizona
Top 7 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 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe Public | 370 | $44,571 |
| 2 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix Private not-for-profit | 363 | $38,507 |
| 3 | University of Arizona Tucson Public | 283 | $42,993 |
| 4 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Public | 75 | $41,491 |
| 5 | Estrella Mountain Community College Avondale Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 6 | Chandler-Gilbert Community College Chandler Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 7 | Arizona Christian University Glendale Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 14 Arizona colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University Digital Immersion (Online) | Scottsdale | Public | 604 |
| University of Phoenix-Arizona (Online) | Phoenix | Private for-profit | 231 |
| Glendale Community College | Glendale | Public | 19 |
| Ottawa University - Surprise | Surprise | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Mesa Community College | Mesa | Public | 15 |
| Phoenix College | Phoenix | Public | 10 |
| Scottsdale Community College | Scottsdale | Public | 9 |
| South Mountain Community College | Phoenix | Public | 8 |
| The University of Arizona Global Campus (Online) | Chandler | Public | 7 |
| Arizona Western College | Yuma | Public | 6 |
| Central Arizona College | Coolidge | Public | 6 |
| Paradise Valley Community College | Phoenix | Public | 6 |
| Rio Salado College | Tempe | Public | 2 |
| GateWay Community College | Phoenix | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Arizona
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Arizona.
Which Arizona colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
Arizona State University Campus Immersion (370 graduates a year), Grand Canyon University (363 graduates a year) and University of Arizona (283 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Arizona, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 Arizona colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Arizona?+
By graduate earnings, University of Arizona leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Arizona, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,993, College Scorecard. Northern Arizona University and Grand Canyon University follow. By degrees awarded, Arizona State University Campus Immersion is the largest, with 370 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Arizona has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Arizona tops the list at $42,993. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Arizona?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Arizona is $76,700 (median $66,710), across about 5,350 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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