Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in South Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
Furman University, College of Charleston and University of South Carolina-Columbia are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in South Carolina by graduate earnings. Furman University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,766, College Scorecard. College of Charleston, Coastal Carolina University and University of South Carolina-Columbia award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in South Carolina: 220, 122 and 114 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 23 South Carolina colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 731 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 | Furman University Greenville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,766 | 34 | 79% | $24,932 | $22,631 |
| 2 | College of Charleston Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,903 | 220 | 66% | — | $23,250 |
| 3 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,586 | 114 | 79% | — | $25,500 |
| 4 | University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,456 | 30 | 43% | — | $27,000 |
| 5 | Coastal Carolina University Conway Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,821 | 122 | 48% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | Winthrop University Rock Hill Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,198 | 17 | 57% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,654 | 18 | 40% | — | $28,000 |
| 8 | Charleston Southern University Charleston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,518 | 17 | 47% | $21,848 | $27,000 |
| 9 | University of South Carolina Beaufort Bluffton Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,017 | 13 | 34% | — | $28,500 |
| 10 | Lander University Greenwood Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $25,271 | 17 | 50% | — | $26,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in South 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 | College of Charleston Charleston Public | 220 | $36,903 |
| 2 | Coastal Carolina University Conway Public | 122 | $29,821 |
| 3 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia Public | 114 | $35,586 |
| 4 | Furman University Greenville Private not-for-profit | 34 | $41,766 |
| 5 | Anderson University Anderson Private not-for-profit | 30 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg Public | 30 | $34,456 |
| 7 | University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken Public | 18 | $34,654 |
| 8 | Charleston Southern University Charleston Private not-for-profit | 17 | $33,518 |
| 9 | Lander University Greenwood Public | 17 | $25,271 |
| 10 | Winthrop University Rock Hill Public | 17 | $35,198 |
ShowHide the other 13 South Carolina colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claflin University | Orangeburg | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| University of South Carolina Beaufort | Bluffton | Public | 13 |
| Benedict College | Columbia | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Bob Jones University | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| South Carolina State University | Orangeburg | Public | 12 |
| Clemson University | Clemson | Public | 11 |
| Francis Marion University | Florence | Public | 8 |
| North Greenville University | Tigerville | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Southern Wesleyan University | Central | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Columbia International University | Columbia | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Columbia College | Columbia | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Morris College | Sumter | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Coker University | Hartsville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in South Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in South Carolina.
Which South Carolina colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
College of Charleston (220 graduates a year), Coastal Carolina University (122 graduates a year) and University of South Carolina-Columbia (114 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in South Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 23 South Carolina colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in South Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, Furman University leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in South Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,766, College Scorecard. College of Charleston and University of South Carolina-Columbia follow. By degrees awarded, College of Charleston is the largest, with 220 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in South Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Furman University tops the list at $41,766. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in South Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in South Carolina is $80,010 (median $62,730), across about 2,950 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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