Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in New Jersey
Ranked by graduate earnings
Rutgers University - New Brunswick, The College of New Jersey and Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in New Jersey by graduate earnings. Rutgers University - New Brunswick leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,649, College Scorecard. Rutgers University - New Brunswick, Montclair State University and Rowan University award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in New Jersey: 280, 182 and 106 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 27 New Jersey colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 1,253 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 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,649 | 280 | 84% | — | $25,000 |
| 2 | The College of New Jersey Ewing Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,151 | 74 | 86% | — | $23,000 |
| 3 | Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus Madison Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,772 | 30 | 67% | $23,573 | $25,000 |
| 4 | Rowan University Glassboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,549 | 106 | 67% | — | $25,500 |
| 5 | Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,966 | 71 | 70% | — | $23,250 |
| 6 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,870 | 80 | 44% | — | $26,439 |
| 7 | Stockton University Galloway Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,263 | 58 | 69% | — | $21,500 |
| 8 | Montclair State University Montclair Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,062 | 182 | 65% | — | $24,713 |
| 9 | Kean University Union Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,983 | 94 | 47% | — | $25,250 |
| 10 | Monmouth University West Long Branch Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,742 | 70 | 72% | $28,514 | $26,380 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey Cranford Public · Associate degree | $21,484 | 39 | 35% | — | $7,350 |
| 2 | County College of Morris Randolph Public · Associate degree | $15,905 | 23 | 36% | — | $9,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in New Jersey
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 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick Public | 280 | $43,649 |
| 2 | Montclair State University Montclair Public | 182 | $28,062 |
| 3 | Rowan University Glassboro Public | 106 | $34,549 |
| 4 | Kean University Union Public | 94 | $27,983 |
| 5 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne Public | 80 | $31,870 |
| 6 | The College of New Jersey Ewing Public | 74 | $37,151 |
| 7 | Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah Public | 71 | $31,966 |
| 8 | Monmouth University West Long Branch Private not-for-profit | 70 | $25,742 |
| 9 | Stockton University Galloway Public | 58 | $28,263 |
| 10 | Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus Madison Private not-for-profit | 30 | $34,772 |
ShowHide the other 17 New Jersey colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey | Cranford | Public | 39 |
| Seton Hall University | South Orange | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| County College of Morris | Randolph | Public | 23 |
| Drew University | Madison | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| New Jersey City University | Jersey City | Public | 21 |
| Rider University | Lawrenceville | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Raritan Valley Community College | Branchburg | Public | 13 |
| Atlantic Cape Community College | Mays Landing | Public | 9 |
| Caldwell University | Caldwell | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Saint Peter's University | Jersey City | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Thomas Edison State University (Degree completion) | Trenton | Public | 6 |
| Centenary University | Hackettstown | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Bloomfield College of Montclair State University | Bloomfield | Public | 3 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus | Teaneck | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Felician University | Lodi | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Saint Elizabeth University | Morristown | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Pillar College | Newark | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in New Jersey
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in New Jersey.
Which New Jersey colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
Rutgers University - New Brunswick (280 graduates a year), Montclair State University (182 graduates a year) and Rowan University (106 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in New Jersey, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 27 New Jersey colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in New Jersey?+
By graduate earnings, Rutgers University - New Brunswick leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in New Jersey, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,649, College Scorecard. The College of New Jersey and Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus follow. By degrees awarded, Rutgers University - New Brunswick is the largest, with 280 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in New Jersey has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Rutgers University - New Brunswick tops the list at $43,649. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in New Jersey?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in New Jersey is $88,460 (median $80,130), across about 4,980 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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