Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Missouri
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Missouri-Columbia, Lindenwood University and University of Missouri-Kansas City are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Missouri by graduate earnings. University of Missouri-Columbia leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,078, College Scorecard. University of Missouri-Columbia, Missouri State University - Springfield and University of Missouri-St Louis award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Missouri: 215, 96 and 70 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 31 Missouri colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 713 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 Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,078 | 215 | 75% | — | $20,500 |
| 2 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,579 | 35 | 49% | $17,436 | $28,500 |
| 3 | University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,786 | 42 | 55% | — | $21,982 |
| 4 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,195 | 46 | 54% | — | $26,000 |
| 5 | University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,809 | 70 | 57% | — | $21,326 |
| 6 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,076 | 96 | 58% | — | $25,000 |
| 7 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,047 | 46 | 80% | $24,886 | $24,343 |
| 8 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,282 | 7 | 58% | — | $24,500 |
| 9 | Avila University Kansas City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,905 | 4 | 52% | $16,721 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Truman State University Kirksville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,853 | 12 | 69% | — | $23,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Missouri
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 Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public | 215 | $44,078 |
| 2 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public | 96 | $32,076 |
| 3 | University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis Public | 70 | $32,809 |
| 4 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville Public | 46 | $34,195 |
| 5 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | 46 | $30,047 |
| 6 | University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City Public | 42 | $38,786 |
| 7 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles Private not-for-profit | 35 | $41,579 |
| 8 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Public | 25 | Not reported |
| 9 | Webster University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | 21 | Not reported |
| 10 | Maryville University of Saint Louis Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 21 Missouri colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Missouri
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Missouri.
Which Missouri colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
University of Missouri-Columbia (215 graduates a year), Missouri State University - Springfield (96 graduates a year) and University of Missouri-St Louis (70 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 31 Missouri colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Missouri?+
By graduate earnings, University of Missouri-Columbia leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Missouri, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,078, College Scorecard. Lindenwood University and University of Missouri-Kansas City follow. By degrees awarded, University of Missouri-Columbia is the largest, with 215 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Missouri has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Missouri-Columbia tops the list at $44,078. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Missouri?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Missouri is $67,840 (median $61,130), across about 4,820 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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