Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Texas
Ranked by graduate earnings
The University of Texas Permian Basin, The University of Texas at Austin and Baylor University are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Texas by graduate earnings. The University of Texas Permian Basin leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,203, College Scorecard. Texas A&M University - College Station, Baylor University and Texas Tech University award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Texas: 730, 309 and 299 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 73 Texas colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 4,031 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 | The University of Texas Permian Basin Odessa Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,203 | 31 | 40% | — | $22,852 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,848 | 236 | 89% | — | $20,500 |
| 3 | Baylor University Waco Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,740 | 309 | 80% | $35,682 | $23,860 |
| 4 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,295 | 730 | 84% | — | $17,782 |
| 5 | University of Houston Houston Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,958 | 50 | 65% | — | $24,777 |
| 6 | Texas State University San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,386 | 198 | 55% | — | $24,250 |
| 7 | Dallas Baptist University Dallas Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,812 | 33 | 57% | $29,227 | $22,831 |
| 8 | Tarleton State University Stephenville Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,715 | 68 | 48% | — | $22,368 |
| 9 | Trinity University San Antonio Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,589 | 39 | 84% | $20,327 | $25,340 |
| 10 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,314 | 230 | 53% | — | $22,923 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Texas
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 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station Public | 730 | $43,295 |
| 2 | Baylor University Waco Private not-for-profit | 309 | $43,740 |
| 3 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public | 299 | $34,028 |
| 4 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public | 236 | $43,848 |
| 5 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio Public | 230 | $34,314 |
| 6 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Public | 205 | $32,990 |
| 7 | Texas State University San Marcos Public | 198 | $37,386 |
| 8 | Sam Houston State University Huntsville Public | 191 | $28,247 |
| 9 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth Private not-for-profit | 161 | $32,123 |
| 10 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg Public | 99 | $26,748 |
ShowHide the other 63 Texas colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Texas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Texas.
Which Texas colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
Texas A&M University - College Station (730 graduates a year), Baylor University (309 graduates a year) and Texas Tech University (299 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 73 Texas colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Texas?+
By graduate earnings, The University of Texas Permian Basin leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Texas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,203, College Scorecard. The University of Texas at Austin and Baylor University follow. By degrees awarded, Texas A&M University - College Station is the largest, with 730 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Texas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, The University of Texas Permian Basin tops the list at $46,203. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Texas?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Texas is $72,860 (median $65,160), across about 25,220 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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