Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Maryland
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Maryland-College Park, Towson University and Loyola University Maryland are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Maryland by graduate earnings. University of Maryland-College Park leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,696, College Scorecard. University of Maryland-College Park, Johns Hopkins University and Salisbury University award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Maryland: 273, 212 and 122 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 19 Maryland colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 1,112 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 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,696 | 273 | 89% | — | $20,000 |
| 2 | Towson University Towson Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,657 | 88 | 69% | — | $20,309 |
| 3 | Loyola University Maryland Baltimore Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,640 | 54 | 79% | $26,585 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Salisbury University Salisbury Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,704 | 122 | 68% | — | $22,250 |
| 5 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County Baltimore Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,737 | 58 | 70% | — | $24,389 |
| 6 | University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi Public · Bachelor's degree Online | $53,513 | 140 | 33% | — | $27,971 |
| 7 | Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,055 | 9 | 65% | $23,136 | $26,312 |
| 8 | McDaniel College Westminster Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,402 | 7 | 63% | $18,988 | $25,000 |
| 9 | Frostburg State University Frostburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,720 | 18 | 50% | — | $27,000 |
| 10 | Hood College Frederick Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $20,422 | 9 | 57% | $23,244 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Maryland
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 Maryland-College Park College Park Public | 273 | $43,696 |
| 2 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Private not-for-profit | 212 | Not reported |
| 3 | Salisbury University Salisbury Public | 122 | $34,704 |
| 4 | Towson University Towson Public | 88 | $42,657 |
| 5 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County Baltimore Public | 58 | $30,737 |
| 6 | Loyola University Maryland Baltimore Private not-for-profit | 54 | $42,640 |
| 7 | Montgomery College Rockville Public | 50 | Not reported |
| 8 | Stevenson University Owings Mills Private not-for-profit | 22 | Not reported |
| 9 | Frostburg State University Frostburg Public | 18 | $28,720 |
| 10 | Goucher College Baltimore Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 9 Maryland colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland Global Campus (Online) | Adelphi | Public | 140 |
| Prince George's Community College | Largo | Public | 12 |
| Washington College | Chestertown | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Hood College | Frederick | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Mount St. Mary's University | Emmitsburg | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Cecil College | North East | Public | 7 |
| McDaniel College | Westminster | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Notre Dame of Maryland University | Baltimore | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| College of Southern Maryland | La Plata | Public | 3 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Maryland
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Maryland.
Which Maryland colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
University of Maryland-College Park (273 graduates a year), Johns Hopkins University (212 graduates a year) and Salisbury University (122 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Maryland, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 19 Maryland colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Maryland?+
By graduate earnings, University of Maryland-College Park leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Maryland, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,696, College Scorecard. Towson University and Loyola University Maryland follow. By degrees awarded, University of Maryland-College Park is the largest, with 273 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Maryland has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Maryland-College Park tops the list at $43,696. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Maryland?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Maryland is $88,560 (median $79,560), across about 4,190 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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