Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Indiana
Ranked by graduate earnings
DePauw University, Purdue University and Indiana University - Indianapolis are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Indiana by graduate earnings. DePauw University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,141, College Scorecard. Indiana University - Bloomington, Purdue University and DePauw University award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Indiana: 491, 246 and 65 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 30 Indiana colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 1,239 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 | DePauw University Greencastle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,141 | 65 | 75% | $20,874 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Purdue University West Lafayette Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,409 | 246 | 83% | — | $18,500 |
| 3 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,775 | 60 | 54% | — | $20,500 |
| 4 | Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,712 | 27 | 36% | — | $25,289 |
| 5 | Indiana University - East Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,463 | 25 | 40% | — | $24,462 |
| 6 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,700 | 491 | 80% | — | $21,500 |
| 7 | Indiana State University Terre Haute Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,213 | 25 | 43% | — | $25,000 |
| 8 | Ball State University Muncie Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,815 | 30 | 62% | — | $21,550 |
| 9 | University of Indianapolis Indianapolis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,054 | 24 | 56% | $18,930 | $27,000 |
| 10 | University of Southern Indiana Evansville Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,059 | 23 | 48% | — | $17,860 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Indiana
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 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington Public | 491 | $36,700 |
| 2 | Purdue University West Lafayette Public | 246 | $41,409 |
| 3 | DePauw University Greencastle Private not-for-profit | 65 | $43,141 |
| 4 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis Public | 60 | $39,775 |
| 5 | Purdue University Northwest Hammond Public | 37 | $25,541 |
| 6 | Ball State University Muncie Public | 30 | $33,815 |
| 7 | Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Public | 27 | $39,712 |
| 8 | Indiana State University Terre Haute Public | 25 | $34,213 |
| 9 | Indiana University - East Richmond Public | 25 | $37,463 |
| 10 | University of Indianapolis Indianapolis Private not-for-profit | 24 | $33,054 |
ShowHide the other 20 Indiana colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern Indiana | Evansville | Public | 23 |
| Indiana University - Southeast | New Albany | Public | 18 |
| Saint Mary's College | Notre Dame | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Hanover College | Hanover | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Wabash College | Crawfordsville | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Indiana University - Kokomo | Kokomo | Public | 14 |
| Indiana University - South Bend | South Bend | Public | 14 |
| University of Evansville | Evansville | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Valparaiso University | Valparaiso | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Grace College and Theological Seminary | Winona Lake | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Indiana University - Northwest | Gary | Public | 10 |
| Taylor University | Upland | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Trine University | Angola | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global (Online) | Marion | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Marian University | Indianapolis | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Goshen College | Goshen | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Butler University | Indianapolis | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Bethel University | Mishawaka | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion | Marion | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Oakland City University | Oakland City | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Indiana
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Indiana.
Which Indiana colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
Indiana University - Bloomington (491 graduates a year), Purdue University (246 graduates a year) and DePauw University (65 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Indiana, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 30 Indiana colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Indiana?+
By graduate earnings, DePauw University leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Indiana, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,141, College Scorecard. Purdue University and Indiana University - Indianapolis follow. By degrees awarded, Indiana University - Bloomington is the largest, with 491 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Indiana has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, DePauw University tops the list at $43,141. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Indiana?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Indiana is $72,510 (median $64,900), across about 3,750 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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