Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Georgia
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Georgia, University of North Georgia and Mercer University are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Georgia by graduate earnings. University of Georgia leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,283, College Scorecard. University of Georgia, Georgia State University and Valdosta State University award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Georgia: 207, 89 and 65 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 26 Georgia colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 739 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 Georgia Athens Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,283 | 207 | 90% | — | $22,500 |
| 2 | University of North Georgia Dahlonega Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,237 | 50 | 37% | — | $19,000 |
| 3 | Mercer University Macon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,712 | 29 | 70% | $22,641 | $26,990 |
| 4 | Columbus State University Columbus Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,078 | 52 | 42% | — | $29,500 |
| 5 | Augusta University Augusta Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,796 | 37 | 49% | — | $30,520 |
| 6 | Georgia State University Atlanta Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,917 | 89 | 53% | — | $27,854 |
| 7 | Morehouse College Atlanta Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $26,839 | 48 | 59% | $36,431 | $26,000 |
| 8 | Valdosta State University Valdosta Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,706 | 65 | 42% | — | $29,000 |
| 9 | Clayton State University Morrow Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,493 | 15 | 40% | — | $35,000 |
| 10 | Fort Valley State University Fort Valley Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $22,410 | 16 | 41% | — | $34,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Georgia
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 Georgia Athens Public | 207 | $44,283 |
| 2 | Georgia State University Atlanta Public | 89 | $27,917 |
| 3 | Valdosta State University Valdosta Public | 65 | $26,706 |
| 4 | Columbus State University Columbus Public | 52 | $32,078 |
| 5 | University of North Georgia Dahlonega Public | 50 | $38,237 |
| 6 | Morehouse College Atlanta Private not-for-profit | 48 | $26,839 |
| 7 | Augusta University Augusta Public | 37 | $30,796 |
| 8 | Georgia Southern University Statesboro Public | 30 | Not reported |
| 9 | Mercer University Macon Private not-for-profit | 29 | $35,712 |
| 10 | Oglethorpe University Atlanta Private not-for-profit | 18 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 16 Georgia colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Military College | Milledgeville | Public | 17 |
| Fort Valley State University | Fort Valley | Public | 16 |
| Albany State University | Albany | Public | 15 |
| Clayton State University | Morrow | Public | 15 |
| Emmanuel University | Franklin Springs | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Georgia Southwestern State University | Americus | Public | 6 |
| Piedmont University | Demorest | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Shorter University | Rome | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Toccoa Falls College | Toccoa Falls | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Brenau University | Gainesville | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Reinhardt University | Waleska | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Young Harris College | Young Harris | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Point University | West Point | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Paine College | Augusta | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Truett McConnell University | Cleveland | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| University of West Georgia | Carrollton | Public | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Georgia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Georgia.
Which Georgia colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
University of Georgia (207 graduates a year), Georgia State University (89 graduates a year) and Valdosta State University (65 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Georgia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 26 Georgia colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Georgia?+
By graduate earnings, University of Georgia leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Georgia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,283, College Scorecard. University of North Georgia and Mercer University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Georgia is the largest, with 207 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Georgia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Georgia tops the list at $44,283. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Georgia?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Georgia is $84,550 (median $73,200), across about 6,860 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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