Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Kansas
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Kansas, Washburn University and Wichita State University are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Kansas by graduate earnings. University of Kansas leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,772, College Scorecard. University of Kansas, Wichita State University and Pittsburg State University award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Kansas: 126, 44 and 38 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 19 Kansas colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 341 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 7 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 Kansas Lawrence Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,772 | 126 | 69% | — | $22,250 |
| 2 | Washburn University Topeka Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,932 | 33 | 53% | — | $21,875 |
| 3 | Wichita State University Wichita Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,035 | 44 | 51% | — | $25,159 |
| 4 | Kansas State University Manhattan Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,385 | 25 | 71% | — | $24,945 |
| 5 | Pittsburg State University Pittsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,106 | 38 | 57% | — | $23,250 |
| 6 | Emporia State University Emporia Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,095 | 12 | 56% | — | $26,000 |
| 7 | Ottawa University - Ottawa Ottawa Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,465 | 9 | 28% | $26,935 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Kansas
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 Kansas Lawrence Public | 126 | $40,772 |
| 2 | Wichita State University Wichita Public | 44 | $35,035 |
| 3 | Pittsburg State University Pittsburg Public | 38 | $28,106 |
| 4 | Washburn University Topeka Public | 33 | $39,932 |
| 5 | Kansas State University Manhattan Public | 25 | $30,385 |
| 6 | Fort Hays State University Hays Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 7 | Emporia State University Emporia Public | 12 | $37,095 |
| 8 | Baker University Baldwin City Private not-for-profit | 7 | Not reported |
| 9 | McPherson College McPherson Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
| 10 | Bethel College - North Newton North Newton Private not-for-profit | 5 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 9 Kansas colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa University - Ottawa | Ottawa | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Southwestern College | Winfield | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Ottawa University - Online (Online) | Overland Park | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Haskell Indian Nations University | Lawrence | Public | 3 |
| Kansas Wesleyan University | Salina | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Tabor College | Hillsboro | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Butler Community College | El Dorado | Public | 2 |
| Central Christian College of Kansas | McPherson | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Friends University | Wichita | 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 Kansas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Kansas.
Which Kansas colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
University of Kansas (126 graduates a year), Wichita State University (44 graduates a year) and Pittsburg State University (38 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Kansas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 19 Kansas colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Kansas?+
By graduate earnings, University of Kansas leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Kansas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,772, College Scorecard. Washburn University and Wichita State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Kansas is the largest, with 126 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Kansas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Kansas tops the list at $40,772. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Kansas?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Kansas is $69,850 (median $64,860), across about 2,340 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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