Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Connecticut
Ranked by graduate earnings
Fairfield University, University of Connecticut and Quinnipiac University are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Connecticut by graduate earnings. Fairfield University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,677, College Scorecard. University of Connecticut, Sacred Heart University and Fairfield University award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Connecticut: 287, 89 and 75 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 14 Connecticut colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 810 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 | Fairfield University Fairfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,677 | 75 | 84% | $36,845 | $27,000 |
| 2 | University of Connecticut Storrs Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,473 | 287 | 83% | — | $24,068 |
| 3 | Quinnipiac University Hamden Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,199 | 46 | 76% | $36,137 | $26,000 |
| 4 | Eastern Connecticut State University Willimantic Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,721 | 48 | 58% | — | $26,000 |
| 5 | Central Connecticut State University New Britain Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,399 | 20 | 48% | — | $23,250 |
| 6 | Southern Connecticut State University New Haven Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,984 | 59 | 50% | — | $26,000 |
| 7 | Sacred Heart University Fairfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,884 | 89 | 73% | $42,705 | $26,399 |
| 8 | University of New Haven West Haven Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,918 | 22 | 63% | $32,614 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Western Connecticut State University Danbury Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,909 | 37 | 52% | — | $25,069 |
| 10 | University of Hartford West Hartford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,186 | 15 | 54% | $28,311 | $26,374 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Connecticut
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 Connecticut Storrs Public | 287 | $40,473 |
| 2 | Sacred Heart University Fairfield Private not-for-profit | 89 | $28,884 |
| 3 | Fairfield University Fairfield Private not-for-profit | 75 | $46,677 |
| 4 | Southern Connecticut State University New Haven Public | 59 | $29,984 |
| 5 | Eastern Connecticut State University Willimantic Public | 48 | $32,721 |
| 6 | Quinnipiac University Hamden Private not-for-profit | 46 | $37,199 |
| 7 | Western Connecticut State University Danbury Public | 37 | $27,909 |
| 8 | University of New Haven West Haven Private not-for-profit | 22 | $27,918 |
| 9 | Central Connecticut State University New Britain Public | 20 | $30,399 |
| 10 | University of Hartford West Hartford Private not-for-profit | 15 | $32,186 |
ShowHide the other 4 Connecticut colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut State Community College | New Britain | Public | 81 |
| Post University (Online) | Waterbury | Private for-profit | 14 |
| Mitchell College | New London | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Albertus Magnus College | New Haven | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Connecticut
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Connecticut.
Which Connecticut colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
University of Connecticut (287 graduates a year), Sacred Heart University (89 graduates a year) and Fairfield University (75 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Connecticut, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 14 Connecticut colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Connecticut?+
By graduate earnings, Fairfield University leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Connecticut, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,677, College Scorecard. University of Connecticut and Quinnipiac University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Connecticut is the largest, with 287 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Connecticut has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Fairfield University tops the list at $46,677. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Connecticut?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Connecticut is $95,000 (median $84,990), across about 1,910 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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