Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University and North Carolina State University at Raleigh are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,348, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, East Carolina University and University of North Carolina at Charlotte award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in North Carolina: 544, 293 and 253 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 38 North Carolina colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 2,475 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,348 | 544 | 91% | — | $15,500 |
| 2 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,055 | 160 | 89% | $20,914 | $22,250 |
| 3 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,889 | 207 | 85% | — | $22,324 |
| 4 | Appalachian State University Boone Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,331 | 105 | 75% | — | $21,500 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,234 | 253 | 69% | — | $24,050 |
| 6 | East Carolina University Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,813 | 293 | 63% | — | $23,250 |
| 7 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,695 | 177 | 71% | — | $21,500 |
| 8 | Queens University of Charlotte Charlotte Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,279 | 41 | 61% | $24,872 | $27,000 |
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,559 | 129 | 56% | — | $25,000 |
| 10 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,996 | 41 | 60% | — | $18,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in North Carolina
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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public | 544 | $43,348 |
| 2 | East Carolina University Greenville Public | 293 | $37,813 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public | 253 | $38,234 |
| 4 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public | 207 | $39,889 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public | 177 | $36,695 |
| 6 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem Private not-for-profit | 160 | $42,055 |
| 7 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro Public | 131 | $28,985 |
| 8 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public | 129 | $30,559 |
| 9 | Appalachian State University Boone Public | 105 | $38,331 |
| 10 | High Point University High Point Private not-for-profit | 90 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 28 North Carolina colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem | Public | 49 |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte | Private not-for-profit | 41 |
| Western Carolina University | Cullowhee | Public | 41 |
| North Carolina Central University | Durham | Public | 38 |
| University of North Carolina Asheville | Asheville | Public | 32 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke | Public | 26 |
| Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville | Public | 22 |
| Davidson College | Davidson | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Elon University | Elon | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Barton College | Wilson | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Johnson C Smith University | Charlotte | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Meredith College | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Methodist University | Fayetteville | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Catawba College | Salisbury | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Montreat College | Montreat | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte | Charlotte | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan University | Rocky Mount | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| William Peace University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Shaw University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Belmont Abbey College | Belmont | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Brevard College | Brevard | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lees-McRae College | Banner Elk | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Pfeiffer University | Misenheimer | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Wingate University | Wingate | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Warren Wilson College | Swannanoa | 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 North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (544 graduates a year), East Carolina University (293 graduates a year) and University of North Carolina at Charlotte (253 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 38 North Carolina colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,348, College Scorecard. Wake Forest University and North Carolina State University at Raleigh follow. By degrees awarded, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the largest, with 544 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tops the list at $43,348. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in North Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in North Carolina is $78,940 (median $67,230), across about 9,910 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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