Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University and Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. University of Pennsylvania leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,022, College Scorecard. Villanova University, Pennsylvania State University and Temple University award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Pennsylvania: 153, 132 and 114 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 76 Pennsylvania colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 1,774 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 Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,022 | 72 | 97% | $22,055 | $15,637 |
| 2 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $52,294 | 153 | 92% | $33,774 | $26,456 |
| 3 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,024 | 55 | 79% | $34,418 | $26,990 |
| 4 | La Salle University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,037 | 28 | 57% | $21,997 | $26,924 |
| 5 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,999 | 31 | 58% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,957 | 43 | 54% | — | $26,000 |
| 7 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,840 | 63 | 66% | — | $26,000 |
| 8 | Ursinus College Collegeville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,420 | 28 | 73% | $27,153 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Temple University Philadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,496 | 114 | 75% | — | $24,880 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,181 | 132 | 86% | — | $25,875 |
Top 3 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 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public · Certificate | $42,321 | 159 | 85% | — | $25,000 |
| 2 | Northampton County Area Community College Bethlehem Public · Associate degree Small program | $30,471 | 19 | 24% | — | $17,500 |
| 3 | Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia Public · Associate degree | $24,794 | 34 | 24% | — | $14,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit | 153 | $52,294 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 132 | $34,181 |
| 3 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 114 | $34,496 |
| 4 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public | 77 | $31,419 |
| 5 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester Public | 73 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 72 | $53,022 |
| 7 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public | 63 | $35,840 |
| 8 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public | 58 | $29,858 |
| 9 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 55 | $38,024 |
| 10 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown Public | 43 | $35,957 |
ShowHide the other 66 Pennsylvania colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | Pittsburgh | Public | 159 |
| Community College of Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Public | 34 |
| Grove City College | Grove City | Private not-for-profit | 32 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville | Public | 31 |
| Pennsylvania Western University | California | Public | 31 |
| Muhlenberg College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| La Salle University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 28 |
| Ursinus College | Collegeville | Private not-for-profit | 28 |
| Delaware County Community College | Media | Public | 26 |
| Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell | Public | 26 |
| Lancaster Bible College | Lancaster | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| Northampton County Area Community College | Bethlehem | Public | 19 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Harrisburg | Middletown | Public | 19 |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College | Schnecksville | Public | 18 |
| Pennsylvania State University - World Campus (Online) | University Park | Public | 18 |
| Duquesne University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Arcadia University | Glenside | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Wilkes University | Wilkes-Barre | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Bucks County Community College | Newtown | Public | 15 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Brandywine | Media | Public | 15 |
| Saint Vincent College | Latrobe | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg | Public | 14 |
| University of Scranton | Scranton | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Shippensburg | Public | 14 |
| Allegheny College | Meadville | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Chatham University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Chestnut Hill College | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Neumann University | Aston | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Albright College | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Alvernia University | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Washington & Jefferson College | Washington | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Erie-Behrend College | Erie | Public | 10 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Berks | Reading | Public | 10 |
| Delaware Valley University | Doylestown | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Mercyhurst University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Thomas Jefferson University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Eastern University | Saint Davids | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| DeSales University | Center Valley | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| La Roche University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State New Kensington | New Kensington | Public | 7 |
| Central Penn College | Summerdale | Private for-profit | 6 |
| King's College | Wilkes-Barre | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Mount Aloysius College | Cresson | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Saint Francis University | Loretto | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | Cheyney | Public | 5 |
| Juniata College | Huntingdon | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Misericordia University | Dallas | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Reading Area Community College | Reading | Public | 5 |
| Widener University | Chester | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Community College of Beaver County | Monaca | Public | 3 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Altoona | Altoona | Public | 3 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Beaver | Monaca | Public | 3 |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Waynesburg University | Waynesburg | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Wilson College | Chambersburg | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Cedar Crest College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Greater Allegheny | McKeesport | Public | 2 |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Westminster College | New Wilmington | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Carlow University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Geneva College | Beaver Falls | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore | 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 Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
Villanova University (153 graduates a year), Pennsylvania State University (132 graduates a year) and Temple University (114 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 76 Pennsylvania colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, University of Pennsylvania leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,022, College Scorecard. Villanova University and Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia follow. By degrees awarded, Villanova University is the largest, with 153 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Pennsylvania tops the list at $53,022. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Pennsylvania is $65,660 (median $57,460), across about 11,180 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card