Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Florida
Ranked by graduate earnings
Florida State College at Jacksonville, Florida Gulf Coast University and University of Central Florida are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Florida by graduate earnings. Florida State College at Jacksonville leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,508, College Scorecard. University of Central Florida, Florida International University and University of Florida award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Florida: 439, 334 and 321 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 35 Florida colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 2,690 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 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,508 | 23 | 37% | — | — |
| 2 | Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,342 | 118 | 57% | — | $19,258 |
| 3 | University of Central Florida Orlando Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,021 | 439 | 78% | — | $21,854 |
| 4 | University of North Florida Jacksonville Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,842 | 167 | 69% | — | $17,345 |
| 5 | Ave Maria University Ave Maria Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,842 | 29 | 54% | $22,235 | — |
| 6 | Florida International University Miami Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,424 | 334 | 74% | — | $18,000 |
| 7 | Rollins College Winter Park Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,285 | 71 | 75% | $31,438 | $26,000 |
| 8 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,720 | 234 | 63% | — | $19,500 |
| 9 | University of South Florida Tampa Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,530 | 286 | 77% | — | $20,500 |
| 10 | The University of Tampa Tampa Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,804 | 115 | 64% | $33,070 | $26,000 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full Sail University Winter Park Private for-profit · Certificate | $28,447 | 183 | 44% | $32,163 | $21,124 |
| 2 | Florida State University Tallahassee Public · Graduate degree Small program | $42,081 | 4 | 86% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Florida
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 Central Florida Orlando Public | 439 | $37,021 |
| 2 | Florida International University Miami Public | 334 | $36,424 |
| 3 | University of Florida Gainesville Public | 321 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of South Florida Tampa Public | 286 | $34,530 |
| 5 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Public | 234 | $34,720 |
| 6 | University of North Florida Jacksonville Public | 167 | $36,842 |
| 7 | Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers Public | 118 | $39,342 |
| 8 | The University of Tampa Tampa Private not-for-profit | 115 | $32,804 |
| 9 | University of West Florida Pensacola Public | 78 | $30,850 |
| 10 | Rollins College Winter Park Private not-for-profit | 71 | $36,285 |
ShowHide the other 25 Florida colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Sail University | Winter Park | Private for-profit | 183 |
| University of Miami | Coral Gables | Private not-for-profit | 54 |
| Southeastern University | Lakeland | Private not-for-profit | 38 |
| Ave Maria University | Ave Maria | Private not-for-profit | 29 |
| Bethune-Cookman University | Daytona Beach | Private not-for-profit | 26 |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Public | 23 |
| Stetson University | DeLand | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University | West Palm Beach | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Edward Waters University | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Barry University | Miami | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Flagler College | Saint Augustine | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Saint Leo University | Saint Leo | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| St. Thomas University | Miami Gardens | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Jacksonville University | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Warner University | Lake Wales | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Ana G. Mendez University | Orlando | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee | Public | 4 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide (Online) | Daytona Beach | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| URBE University | Sweetwater | Private for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Florida
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Florida.
Which Florida colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
University of Central Florida (439 graduates a year), Florida International University (334 graduates a year) and University of Florida (321 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Florida, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 35 Florida colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Florida?+
By graduate earnings, Florida State College at Jacksonville leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Florida, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,508, College Scorecard. Florida Gulf Coast University and University of Central Florida follow. By degrees awarded, University of Central Florida is the largest, with 439 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Florida has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Florida State College at Jacksonville tops the list at $43,508. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Florida?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Florida is $71,950 (median $63,660), across about 17,820 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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