Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Oregon
Ranked by graduate earnings
Oregon State University, Western Oregon University and Portland State University are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Oregon by graduate earnings. Oregon State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,737, College Scorecard. Portland State University, University of Oregon and Lewis & Clark College award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Oregon: 61, 44 and 33 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 Oregon colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 292 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 9 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 | Oregon State University Corvallis Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,737 | 25 | 70% | — | $21,740 |
| 2 | Western Oregon University Monmouth Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,600 | 25 | 47% | — | $21,316 |
| 3 | Portland State University Portland Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,143 | 61 | 53% | — | $24,582 |
| 4 | University of Oregon Eugene Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,165 | 44 | 72% | — | $16,500 |
| 5 | Southern Oregon University Ashland Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,422 | 32 | 43% | — | $23,584 |
| 6 | Lewis & Clark College Portland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $17,707 | 33 | 75% | $27,621 | $20,500 |
| 7 | Eastern Oregon University La Grande Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,143 | 11 | 43% | — | $29,801 |
| 8 | Willamette University Salem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,472 | 11 | 71% | $20,345 | $26,000 |
| 9 | Linfield University McMinnville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,860 | 12 | 70% | $26,243 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Oregon
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 | Portland State University Portland Public | 61 | $35,143 |
| 2 | University of Oregon Eugene Public | 44 | $33,165 |
| 3 | Lewis & Clark College Portland Private not-for-profit | 33 | $17,707 |
| 4 | Southern Oregon University Ashland Public | 32 | $30,422 |
| 5 | Oregon State University Corvallis Public | 25 | $40,737 |
| 6 | Western Oregon University Monmouth Public | 25 | $37,600 |
| 7 | Linfield University McMinnville Private not-for-profit | 12 | $30,860 |
| 8 | Eastern Oregon University La Grande Public | 11 | $37,143 |
| 9 | Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls Public | 11 | Not reported |
| 10 | Willamette University Salem Private not-for-profit | 11 | $31,472 |
ShowHide the other 5 Oregon colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linn-Benton Community College | Albany | Public | 8 |
| University of Portland | Portland | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Corban University | Salem | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| George Fox University | Newberg | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Bushnell University | Eugene | 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 Oregon
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Oregon.
Which Oregon colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
Portland State University (61 graduates a year), University of Oregon (44 graduates a year) and Lewis & Clark College (33 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Oregon, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 Oregon colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Oregon?+
By graduate earnings, Oregon State University leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Oregon, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,737, College Scorecard. Western Oregon University and Portland State University follow. By degrees awarded, Portland State University is the largest, with 61 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Oregon has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Oregon State University tops the list at $40,737. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Oregon?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Oregon is $80,470 (median $74,900), across about 4,510 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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