Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Colorado
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus and Colorado State University - Fort Collins are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Colorado by graduate earnings. University of Colorado Boulder leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,738, College Scorecard. University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs and University of Denver award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Colorado: 251, 135 and 134 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 Colorado colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 962 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 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,738 | 251 | 74% | — | $17,500 |
| 2 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,662 | 128 | 46% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,731 | 132 | 67% | — | $24,647 |
| 4 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Springs Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,002 | 135 | 47% | — | $19,500 |
| 5 | University of Denver Denver Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,234 | 134 | 76% | $29,726 | $24,500 |
| 6 | University of Northern Colorado Greeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,892 | 49 | 51% | — | $24,939 |
| 7 | Colorado State University Global Denver Public · Bachelor's degree Online Small program | $49,436 | 5 | — | — | $32,010 |
| 8 | Colorado Christian University Lakewood Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,129 | 14 | 64% | $23,447 | $26,000 |
| 9 | Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,899 | 19 | 41% | — | $23,036 |
| 10 | Colorado State University Pueblo Pueblo Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,769 | 10 | 40% | — | $22,824 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Colorado
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 Colorado Boulder Boulder Public | 251 | $39,738 |
| 2 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Springs Public | 135 | $37,002 |
| 3 | University of Denver Denver Private not-for-profit | 134 | $36,234 |
| 4 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins Public | 132 | $38,731 |
| 5 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver Public | 128 | $39,662 |
| 6 | University of Northern Colorado Greeley Public | 49 | $34,892 |
| 7 | Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction Public | 19 | $32,899 |
| 8 | Front Range Community College Westminster Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 9 | Colorado Christian University Lakewood Private not-for-profit | 14 | $37,129 |
| 10 | Regis University Denver Private not-for-profit | 10 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 11 Colorado colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pikes Peak State College | Colorado Springs | Public | 17 |
| Community College of Denver | Denver | Public | 13 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo | Public | 10 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison | Public | 8 |
| Adams State University | Alamosa | Public | 6 |
| Community College of Aurora | Aurora | Public | 6 |
| Colorado State University Global (Online) | Denver | Public | 5 |
| Arapahoe Community College | Littleton | Public | 3 |
| Red Rocks Community College | Lakewood | Public | 3 |
| Morgan Community College | Fort Morgan | Public | 1 |
| Pueblo Community College | Pueblo | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Colorado
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Colorado.
Which Colorado colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
University of Colorado Boulder (251 graduates a year), University of Colorado Colorado Springs (135 graduates a year) and University of Denver (134 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Colorado, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 Colorado colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Colorado?+
By graduate earnings, University of Colorado Boulder leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Colorado, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,738, College Scorecard. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus and Colorado State University - Fort Collins follow. By degrees awarded, University of Colorado Boulder is the largest, with 251 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Colorado has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Colorado Boulder tops the list at $39,738. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Colorado?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Colorado is $95,790 (median $80,680), across about 7,410 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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