Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Iowa
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University and University of Iowa are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Iowa by graduate earnings. University of Northern Iowa leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,558, College Scorecard. University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Iowa: 122, 47 and 44 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 22 Iowa colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 376 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 6 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 Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,558 | 47 | 68% | — | $19,387 |
| 2 | Iowa State University Ames Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,497 | 44 | 75% | — | $19,425 |
| 3 | University of Iowa Iowa City Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,647 | 122 | 75% | — | $25,814 |
| 4 | Luther College Decorah Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $42,012 | 12 | 71% | $22,827 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Wartburg College Waverly Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $40,255 | 13 | 64% | $20,228 | $26,750 |
| 6 | Loras College Dubuque Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,821 | 15 | 68% | $19,227 | $25,166 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Iowa
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 Iowa Iowa City Public | 122 | $37,647 |
| 2 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public | 47 | $40,558 |
| 3 | Iowa State University Ames Public | 44 | $40,497 |
| 4 | Drake University Des Moines Private not-for-profit | 34 | Not reported |
| 5 | Loras College Dubuque Private not-for-profit | 15 | $36,821 |
| 6 | Central College Pella Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 7 | Wartburg College Waverly Private not-for-profit | 13 | $40,255 |
| 8 | Luther College Decorah Private not-for-profit | 12 | $42,012 |
| 9 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Public | 8 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of Dubuque Dubuque Private not-for-profit | 8 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 12 Iowa colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waldorf University | Forest City | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Iowa Western Community College | Council Bluffs | Public | 8 |
| Grand View University | Des Moines | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Clarke University | Dubuque | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Graceland University - Lamoni | Lamoni | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Upper Iowa University | Fayette | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Coe College | Cedar Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport | Public | 3 |
| Morningside University | Sioux City | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Dordt University | Sioux Center | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Ellsworth Community College | Iowa Falls | Public | 2 |
| Mount Mercy University | Cedar Rapids | 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 Iowa
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Iowa.
Which Iowa colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
University of Iowa (122 graduates a year), University of Northern Iowa (47 graduates a year) and Iowa State University (44 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Iowa, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 22 Iowa colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Iowa?+
By graduate earnings, University of Northern Iowa leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Iowa, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,558, College Scorecard. Iowa State University and University of Iowa follow. By degrees awarded, University of Iowa is the largest, with 122 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Northern Iowa tops the list at $40,558. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Iowa?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Iowa is $68,340 (median $62,970), across about 2,890 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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