Hawaii · Communication and Media Studies

Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Hawaii

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Pacific University award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees and certificates in Hawaii: 139, 34 and 16 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 Hawaii colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 208 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…

Institutions
5
offering CIP 09.01
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
208
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$25,159
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
2
College Scorecard
Median net price
$25,919
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
51%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Public Relations Specialists
$70,190
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 2 institutions, 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu Public · Bachelor's degree
$30,23513964%—$18,972
2University of Hawaii at Hilo
Hilo Public · Bachelor's degree
$25,1593448%—$20,753

Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Hawaii

Top 5 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu Public
139$30,235
2University of Hawaii at Hilo
Hilo Public
34$25,159
3Hawaii Pacific University
Honolulu Private not-for-profit
16Not reported
4Brigham Young University - Hawaii
Laie Private not-for-profit
16Not reported
5Chaminade University of Honolulu
Honolulu Private not-for-profit
3Not reported

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.8%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~27,600
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$69,780
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Active ListeningSpeakingWritingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive Learning

What Public Relations Specialists earn in Hawaii

Jobs in Hawaii
1,800
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$70,190
median $63,880
Best-paying metro
$70,940
Kahului-Wailuku, HI

Related careers

Public Relations Specialists
$70,190 avg · 1,800 jobs
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$115,930 avg · 390 jobs
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$105,060 avg · 240 jobs
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
$77,360 avg · 140 jobs
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
$73,280 avg · 120 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Hawaii.

Which Hawaii colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+

University of Hawaii at Manoa (139 graduates a year), University of Hawaii at Hilo (34 graduates a year) and Hawaii Pacific University (16 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees and certificates in Hawaii, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 Hawaii colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.

Which Communication and Media Studies program in Hawaii has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Hawaii at Manoa tops the list at $30,235. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Hawaii?+

The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Hawaii is $70,190 (median $63,880), across about 1,800 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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