Best institutions to study Communication Management and Strategic Communications
A program that focuses on the critical thinking, analysis, and practical skills essential to developing and implementing communication strategies that advance organizations goals and missions.
64 U.S. institutions graduated 2,014 Communication Management and Strategic Communications students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 09.0909, a specialization of Public Relations (CIP 09.09), and leads most directly to the Fundraising Managers occupation (BLS SOC 11-2033).
About Communication Management and Strategic Communications programs
A program that focuses on the critical thinking, analysis, and practical skills essential to developing and implementing communication strategies that advance organizations goals and missions. Includes instruction in communication management, crisis communication, communications law, digital and traditional marketing strategies, media relations, social media strategies, strategic communication, traditional and emerging media, and writing for the media.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Communication Management and Strategic Communications program, a branch of Public Relations, equips students with essential skills for developing and implementing effective communication strategies. This program is designed for individuals interested in advancing organizational goals through strategic messaging and relationship management in various media landscapes.
Students will gain critical skills in areas such as communication management, crisis communication, media relations, and digital marketing strategies. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, writing for the media, and understanding both traditional and emerging media platforms.
Credentials awarded
What Communication Management and Strategic Communications graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree1,159 graduates / yr · 31 institutions58%
- Master's degree399 graduates / yr · 21 institutions20%
- Associate's degree312 graduates / yr · 3 institutions16%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year108 graduates / yr · 7 institutions5.4%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate21 graduates / yr · 4 institutions1.0%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship8 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.4%
- Post-master's certificate7 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.3%
Graduates over time
Communication Management and Strategic Communications completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 962 |
| 2021 | 1,388 |
| 2022 | 1,763 |
| 2023 | 1,971 |
| 2024 | 1,905 |
| 2025 | 2,014 |
CIP 09.0909 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 50 institutions for Communication Management and Strategic Communications, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fashion Institute of Technology New York, NYPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 574 | 81% | — | $21,006 |
| 2 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 177 | 85% | — | — |
| 3 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WVPublicMaster's | 158 | 65% | — | — |
| 4 | Elon University Elon, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 137 | 84% | $33,688 | — |
| 5 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicBachelor's | 131 | 71% | — | $45,275 |
| 6 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OHPublicBachelor's | 131 | 80% | — | $50,700 |
| 7 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZPublicBachelor's | 103 | 61% | — | $36,920 |
| 8 | University of Vermont Burlington, VTPublicBachelor's | 71 | 79% | — | $35,931 |
| 9 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 65 | 79% | — | $42,974 |
| 10 | Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, LAPublicMaster's | 41 | 45% | — | — |
| 11 | Troy University Troy, ALPublicMaster's | 37 | 50% | — | — |
| 12 | State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, NYPublicMaster's | 26 | 60% | — | $37,203 |
| 13 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 25 | 56% | — | $35,534 |
| 14 | University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WIPublicBachelor's | 20 | 64% | — | — |
| 15 | California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 18 | 70% | $23,129 | — |
| 16 | Columbus State University Columbus, GAPublicMaster's | 18 | 42% | — | — |
| 17 | California Baptist University Riverside, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 16 | 62% | $26,940 | $32,782 |
| 18 | University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MSPublicBachelor's | 16 | 49% | — | — |
| 19 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 16 | 78% | $36,004 | $37,125 |
| 20 | Hampton University Hampton, VAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 16 | 57% | $34,268 | — |
| 21 | Belmont University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 15 | 71% | $29,246 | — |
| 22 | Marietta College Marietta, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 13 | 61% | $18,561 | — |
| 23 | Rollins College Winter Park, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 10 | 75% | $31,438 | — |
| 24 | University of Houston - Downtown Houston, TXPublicMaster's | 9 | 33% | — | — |
| 25 | Lubbock Christian University Lubbock, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 9 | 51% | $25,162 | — |
| 26 | Wilmington University New Castle, DEPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 20% | $16,588 | $40,408 |
| 27 | Towson University Towson, MDPublicMaster's | 8 | 69% | — | — |
| 28 | Winona State University Winona, MNPublicMaster's | 8 | 57% | — | — |
| 29 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OHPublicPost-degree cert. | 8 | 65% | — | — |
| 30 | East Texas Baptist University Marshall, TXPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 8 | 47% | $23,359 | — |
| 31 | Regent University Virginia Beach, VAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 8 | 57% | $18,677 | — |
| 32 | University of Advancing Technology Tempe, AZPrivate for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 8 | 35% | $21,175 | — |
| 33 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LAPublicMaster's | 7 | 69% | — | — |
| 34 | University of Scranton Scranton, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 80% | $25,834 | $35,568 |
| 35 | Boise State University Boise, IDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 60% | — | $43,876 |
| 36 | Calvin University Grand Rapids, MIPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 74% | $22,391 | — |
| 37 | University of Rhode Island Kingston, RIPublicPost-degree cert. | 6 | 73% | — | $42,181 |
| 38 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MNPublicMaster's | 5 | 40% | — | — |
| 39 | Eastern University Saint Davids, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 54% | $25,146 | — |
| 40 | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Shippensburg, PAPublicMaster's | 5 | 56% | — | — |
| 41 | Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 64% | $33,585 | — |
| 42 | Webster University Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 64% | $25,090 | $42,421 |
| 43 | Rhode Island College Providence, RIPublicBachelor's | 4 | 48% | — | — |
| 44 | University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 40% | — | — |
| 45 | The University of Tennessee - Martin Martin, TNPublicMaster's | 4 | 53% | — | — |
| 46 | Hardin - Simmons University Abilene, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 46% | $19,285 | — |
| 47 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WIPublicPost-degree cert. | 4 | 59% | — | — |
| 48 | Concordia University - Saint Paul Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 46% | $17,328 | — |
| 49 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 75% | — | — |
| 50 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJPublicMaster's | 3 | 44% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Public Relations field (CIP 09.09) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 31 states
Where Communication Management and Strategic Communications graduates come from. Each state links to all Public Relations programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-2033, Fundraising Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Fundraising Managers or Public Relations Managers. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a projected growth rate of 4.2% and approximately 3,600 annual openings. The median wage for these roles is $123,480, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 09.0909
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fundraising Managersprimary SOC 11-2033 | $125,470 | +4.2% About as fast as average | ~3,600 | Bachelor's degree |
Public Relations Managers SOC 11-2032 | $146,910 | +5.0% Faster than average | ~6,600 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Communication Management and Strategic Communications programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions.
- Manage fundraising budgets.
- Develop fundraising activity plans that maximize participation or contributions and minimize costs.
- Plan and direct special events for fundraising, such as silent auctions, dances, golf events, or walks.
- Establish goals for soliciting funds, develop policies for collection and safeguarding of contributions, and coordinate disbursement of funds.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, government officials, and media representatives and use these relationships to develop new fundraising opportunities.
Tools and technology used
Other Public Relations specializations
The 10 other 6-digit CIP codes under Public Relations (CIP 09.09).
- AdvertisingCIP 09.09034,542 graduates / yr90 institutions
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationCIP 09.09004,140 graduates / yr164 institutions
- Public Relations/CIP 09.0902
Image Management 4,001 graduates / yr144 institutions - Organizational CommunicationCIP 09.09011,805 graduates / yr79 institutions
- Sports CommunicationCIP 09.09061,470 graduates / yr88 institutions
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationCIP 09.09991,142 graduates / yr42 institutions
- Health CommunicationCIP 09.0905361 graduates / yr51 institutions
- Political CommunicationCIP 09.0904partial data190 graduates / yr9 institutions
- Technical and Scientific CommunicationCIP 09.0908168 graduates / yr25 institutions
- International and Intercultural CommunicationCIP 09.0907157 graduates / yr17 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Associate's degree, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, writing, speaking, and active listening, among others.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can pursue careers such as Fundraising Manager or Public Relations Manager.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.2% and around 3,600 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Communication Management and Strategic Communications?+
Communication Management and Strategic Communications is CIP 09.0909 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Public Relations (CIP 09.09). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the critical thinking, analysis, and practical skills essential to developing and implementing communication strategies that advance organizations goals and missions. Includes instruction in communication management, crisis communication, communications law, digital and traditional marketing strategies, media relations, social media strategies, strategic communication, traditional and emerging media, and writing for the media.
How many institutions offer Communication Management and Strategic Communications programs?+
64 U.S. institutions reported Communication Management and Strategic Communications graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 31 states, awarding 2,014 credentials in the year. That is 10.1% of all Public Relations graduates.
How much do Communication Management and Strategic Communications graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Fundraising Managers occupation, which Communication Management and Strategic Communications most directly leads to, pays a median of $125,470 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Public Relations field report median earnings of $40,408 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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