Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Albion College and Hope College are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,556, College Scorecard. Michigan State University, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Grand Valley State University award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Michigan: 309, 220 and 81 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 35 Michigan colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 1,165 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 Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,556 | 220 | 93% | — | $20,376 |
| 2 | Albion College Albion Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,209 | 27 | 62% | $16,537 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Hope College Holland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,956 | 46 | 80% | $21,746 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,795 | 75 | 58% | — | $24,125 |
| 5 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,717 | 71 | 46% | — | $29,102 |
| 6 | Wayne State University Detroit Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,595 | 48 | 58% | — | $30,500 |
| 7 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,390 | 309 | 81% | — | $26,750 |
| 8 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,348 | 29 | 48% | — | $28,000 |
| 9 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,755 | 81 | 67% | — | $26,000 |
| 10 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,913 | 31 | 59% | — | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Michigan
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 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public | 309 | $36,390 |
| 2 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public | 220 | $50,556 |
| 3 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public | 81 | $32,755 |
| 4 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public | 75 | $37,795 |
| 5 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public | 71 | $36,717 |
| 6 | Wayne State University Detroit Public | 48 | $36,595 |
| 7 | Hope College Holland Private not-for-profit | 46 | $38,956 |
| 8 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public | 46 | $31,169 |
| 9 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public | 31 | $31,913 |
| 10 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center Public | 29 | $36,348 |
ShowHide the other 25 Michigan colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albion College | Albion | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| University of Michigan-Dearborn | Dearborn | Public | 24 |
| Rochester Christian University | Rochester Hills | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Cornerstone University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| University of Michigan-Flint | Flint | Public | 14 |
| Calvin University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Northern Michigan University | Marquette | Public | 10 |
| Lansing Community College | Lansing | Public | 9 |
| Lawrence Technological University | Southfield | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Alma College | Alma | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Jackson College | Jackson | Public | 8 |
| Aquinas College | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Henry Ford College | Dearborn | Public | 7 |
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Grace Christian University | Wyoming | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Oakland Community College | Auburn Hills | Public | 6 |
| University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Michigan Technological University | Houghton | Public | 5 |
| Lake Michigan College | Benton Harbor | Public | 4 |
| Adrian College | Adrian | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Concordia University Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Madonna University | Livonia | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Southwestern Michigan College | Dowagiac | Public | 2 |
| Macomb Community College | Warren | Public | 1 |
| Muskegon Community College | Muskegon | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
Michigan State University (309 graduates a year), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (220 graduates a year) and Grand Valley State University (81 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 35 Michigan colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,556, College Scorecard. Albion College and Hope College follow. By degrees awarded, Michigan State University is the largest, with 309 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor tops the list at $50,556. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Michigan?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Michigan is $73,660 (median $65,300), across about 7,510 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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