Iowa · Communication and Media Studies

Best institutions to study Communication and Media Studies in Iowa

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
22
offering CIP 09.01
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
376
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$40,255
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
6
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,417
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
55%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Public Relations Specialists
$68,340
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 6 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Luther College
Decorah Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$42,0121271%$22,827$27,000
2University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls Public · Bachelor's degree
$40,5584768%$19,387
3Iowa State University
Ames Public · Bachelor's degree
$40,4974475%$19,425
4Wartburg College
Waverly Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$40,2551364%$20,228$26,750
5University of Iowa
Iowa City Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,64712275%$25,814
6Loras College
Dubuque Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$36,8211568%$19,227$25,166

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 Iowa

Jobs in Iowa
2,890
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$68,340
median $62,970
Best-paying metro
$76,050
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Related careers

Public Relations Specialists
$68,340 avg · 2,890 jobs
Fundraisers
$71,680 avg · 1,230 jobs
Editors
$67,790 avg · 900 jobs
Public Relations Managers
$128,080 avg · 630 jobs
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
$51,320 avg · 590 jobs
Fundraising Managers
$102,720 avg · 370 jobs

Common questions

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

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Luther College tops the list at $42,012. Compare it against completions, 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.

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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