Best institutions to study Political Communication
A program that focuses on human and media communication in the political process and that prepares individuals to function as members of political and public affairs organizations, political campaign staffs, and related government and media entities.
9 U.S. institutions graduated 190 Political Communication students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 09.0904, a specialization of Public Relations (CIP 09.09), and leads most directly to the Public Relations Specialists occupation (BLS SOC 27-3031).
About Political Communication programs
A program that focuses on human and media communication in the political process and that prepares individuals to function as members of political and public affairs organizations, political campaign staffs, and related government and media entities. Includes instruction in media effects, political speaking and debating, political advertising and marketing, image management, political journalism, opinion polling, and aspects of print and broadcast media related to the production and distribution of media messages in political settings.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Political Communication program, a specialized branch of Public Relations, focuses on the intersection of human and media communication within the political process. This program is designed for individuals aspiring to work in political and public affairs organizations, campaign staffs, and related government and media entities. Students will gain insights into how communication influences political landscapes and public perception.
Core coursework in this program covers essential skills such as media effects, political speaking and debating, political advertising, image management, and political journalism. Students will also develop competencies in writing, critical thinking, and effective communication strategies.
Credentials awarded
What Political Communication graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree80 graduates / yr · 3 institutions42%
- Bachelor's degree72 graduates / yr · 6 institutions38%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year33 graduates / yr · 3 institutions17%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate5 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.6%
Graduates over time
Political Communication completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 76 |
| 2013 | 69 |
| 2014 | 96 |
| 2015 | 94 |
| 2016 | 100 |
| 2017 | 123 |
| 2018 | 149 |
| 2019 | 197 |
| 2020 | 179 |
| 2021 | 183 |
| 2022 | 191 |
| 2023 | 215 |
| 2024 | 206 |
| 2025 | 190 |
Top 9 institutions for Political Communication, 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 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 95 | 84% | $29,789 | — |
| 2 | American University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 29 | 75% | $30,225 | $50,026 |
| 3 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 28 | 90% | — | $45,326 |
| 4 | Emerson College Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 24 | 77% | $40,982 | $28,606 |
| 5 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicPost-degree cert.Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 85% | — | — |
| 6 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MOPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 58% | — | $40,178 |
| 7 | Siena University Loudonville, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 75% | $30,138 | — |
| 8 | Florida Southern College Lakeland, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 71% | $28,325 | $35,023 |
| 9 | Juniata College Huntingdon, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 74% | $24,867 | — |
* 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 8 states
Where Political Communication graduates come from. Each state links to all Public Relations programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 2 | 124 | George Washington University95 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 28 | University of Georgia28 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 24 | Emerson College24 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 8 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities8 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 2 | Missouri State University - Springfield2 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 2 | Siena University2 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 1 | Florida Southern College1 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 1 | Juniata College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3031, Public Relations Specialists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Political Communication program can pursue careers as Public Relations Specialists, among other roles. The job outlook for related occupations is about as fast as average, with an estimated 27,600 annual openings and a median wage of $69,780. A Bachelor's degree is typically required for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 09.0904
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Relations Specialistsprimary SOC 27-3031 | $74,750 | +4.8% About as fast as average | ~27,600 | Bachelor's degree |
Fundraisers SOC 13-1131 | $72,550 | +4.3% About as fast as average | ~10,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Public Relations Managers SOC 11-2032 | $146,910 | +5.0% Faster than average | ~6,600 | Bachelor's degree |
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists SOC 27-3023 | $62,200 | -3.9% Decline | ~4,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1122 | $78,580 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~2,700 | Doctoral or professional 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 Political Communication 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
- Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
- Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility.
- Post and update content on the company's Web site and social media outlets.
- Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients.
- Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.
- Confer with other managers to identify trends or key group interests or concerns or to provide advice on business decisions.
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 - Communication Management and Strategic CommunicationsCIP 09.09092,014 graduates / yr64 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
- 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, or a postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in active listening, speaking, writing, and critical thinking.
What careers can I pursue?+
You can work as a Public Relations Specialist, fundraiser, or in other communication roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 27,600 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Political Communication?+
Political Communication is CIP 09.0904 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 human and media communication in the political process and that prepares individuals to function as members of political and public affairs organizations, political campaign staffs, and related government and media entities. Includes instruction in media effects, political speaking and debating, political advertising and marketing, image management, political journalism, opinion polling, and aspects of print and broadcast media related to the production and distribution of media messages in political settings.
How many institutions offer Political Communication programs?+
9 U.S. institutions reported Political Communication graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 8 states, awarding 190 credentials in the year. That is 1.0% of all Public Relations graduates.
How much do Political Communication graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Public Relations Specialists occupation, which Political Communication most directly leads to, pays a median of $74,750 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Public Relations field report median earnings of $40,178 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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