Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Arkansas
Ranked by graduate earnings
Arkansas State University, University of Arkansas and Ouachita Baptist University are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Arkansas by graduate earnings. Arkansas State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,192, College Scorecard. University of Arkansas, Arkansas State University and Ouachita Baptist University award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Arkansas: 233, 52 and 30 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 Arkansas colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 515 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 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,192 | 52 | 55% | — | $21,250 |
| 2 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,095 | 233 | 71% | — | $21,165 |
| 3 | Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,574 | 30 | 61% | $21,322 | $23,521 |
| 4 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,927 | 20 | 49% | — | $24,500 |
| 5 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,417 | 15 | 42% | — | $23,717 |
| 6 | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Fort Smith Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,951 | 6 | 38% | — | $23,000 |
| 7 | University of Central Arkansas Conway Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,490 | 12 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Arkansas
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 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville Public | 233 | $40,095 |
| 2 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro Public | 52 | $40,192 |
| 3 | Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia Private not-for-profit | 30 | $34,574 |
| 4 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville Public | 20 | $30,927 |
| 5 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock Public | 15 | $33,417 |
| 6 | University of Central Arkansas Conway Public | 12 | $28,490 |
| 7 | University of the Ozarks Clarksville Private not-for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Fort Smith Public | 6 | $28,951 |
| 9 | Central Baptist College Conway Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
| 10 | Harding University Searcy Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 5 Arkansas colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Arkansas College | Pine Bluff | Public | 121 |
| Henderson State University | Arkadelphia | Public | 3 |
| University of Arkansas at Monticello | Monticello | Public | 2 |
| University of Arkansas Grantham (Online) | LIttle Rock | Public | 2 |
| Lyon College | Batesville | 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 Arkansas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Arkansas.
Which Arkansas colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
University of Arkansas (233 graduates a year), Arkansas State University (52 graduates a year) and Ouachita Baptist University (30 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Arkansas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 Arkansas colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Arkansas?+
By graduate earnings, Arkansas State University leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Arkansas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,192, College Scorecard. University of Arkansas and Ouachita Baptist University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Arkansas is the largest, with 233 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Arkansas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Arkansas State University tops the list at $40,192. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Arkansas?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Arkansas is $77,080 (median $65,000), across about 980 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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