Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Kentucky
Ranked by graduate earnings
Eastern Kentucky University, University of Kentucky and Northern Kentucky University are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Kentucky by graduate earnings. Eastern Kentucky University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,429, College Scorecard. University of Kentucky, University of Louisville and Northern Kentucky University award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Kentucky: 250, 101 and 60 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 Kentucky colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 692 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 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,429 | 21 | 50% | — | $25,000 |
| 2 | University of Kentucky Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,311 | 250 | 71% | — | $23,875 |
| 3 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,637 | 60 | 52% | — | $25,000 |
| 4 | University of Louisville Louisville Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,219 | 101 | 61% | — | $23,375 |
| 5 | Bellarmine University Louisville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,858 | 30 | 64% | $22,542 | $25,853 |
| 6 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,955 | 27 | 56% | — | $23,500 |
| 7 | University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,754 | 27 | 50% | $11,672 | $19,331 |
| 8 | Morehead State University Morehead Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,803 | 27 | 52% | — | $24,857 |
| 9 | Lindsey Wilson University Columbia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,549 | 20 | 44% | $14,471 | $26,769 |
| 10 | Georgetown College Georgetown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,442 | 19 | 49% | $12,666 | $26,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Kentucky
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 Kentucky Lexington Public | 250 | $39,311 |
| 2 | University of Louisville Louisville Public | 101 | $38,219 |
| 3 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Public | 60 | $38,637 |
| 4 | Bellarmine University Louisville Private not-for-profit | 30 | $34,858 |
| 5 | University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg Private not-for-profit | 27 | $27,754 |
| 6 | Morehead State University Morehead Public | 27 | $26,803 |
| 7 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Public | 27 | $33,955 |
| 8 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public | 21 | $40,429 |
| 9 | Lindsey Wilson University Columbia Private not-for-profit | 20 | $25,549 |
| 10 | Georgetown College Georgetown Private not-for-profit | 19 | $35,442 |
ShowHide the other 11 Kentucky colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transylvania University | Lexington | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Asbury University | Wilmore | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary | Louisville | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Berea College | Berea | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Alice Lloyd College | Pippa Passes | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| University of Pikeville | Pikeville | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Murray State University | Murray | Public | 9 |
| Thomas More University | Crestview Hills | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Kentucky Wesleyan College | Owensboro | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Campbellsville University | Campbellsville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Spalding University | Louisville | 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 Kentucky
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Kentucky.
Which Kentucky colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
University of Kentucky (250 graduates a year), University of Louisville (101 graduates a year) and Northern Kentucky University (60 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Kentucky, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 Kentucky colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Kentucky?+
By graduate earnings, Eastern Kentucky University leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Kentucky, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,429, College Scorecard. University of Kentucky and Northern Kentucky University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Kentucky is the largest, with 250 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Kentucky has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Eastern Kentucky University tops the list at $40,429. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Kentucky?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Kentucky is $67,550 (median $60,150), across about 2,580 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).
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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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