Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and James Madison University are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. University of Virginia leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,368, College Scorecard. Liberty University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and James Madison University award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Virginia: 319, 308 and 305 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 28 Virginia colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 1,875 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 Virginia Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,368 | 112 | 96% | — | $21,230 |
| 2 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,309 | 308 | 86% | — | $20,613 |
| 3 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,769 | 305 | 80% | — | $21,502 |
| 4 | Radford University Radford Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,038 | 23 | 49% | — | $25,250 |
| 5 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,953 | 90 | 72% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | Longwood University Farmville Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,062 | 37 | 61% | — | $26,000 |
| 7 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,808 | 222 | 63% | — | $24,000 |
| 8 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,392 | 319 | 65% | $28,911 | $23,250 |
| 9 | Bridgewater College Bridgewater Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,477 | 20 | 53% | $19,485 | $26,000 |
| 10 | Regent University Virginia Beach Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,313 | 66 | 57% | $18,677 | $23,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Virginia
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 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 319 | $35,392 |
| 2 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 308 | $44,309 |
| 3 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 305 | $42,769 |
| 4 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 222 | $35,808 |
| 5 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 143 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 112 | $47,368 |
| 7 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public | 90 | $36,953 |
| 8 | Regent University Virginia Beach Private not-for-profit | 66 | $29,313 |
| 9 | Virginia State University Petersburg Public | 53 | $23,897 |
| 10 | Longwood University Farmville Public | 37 | $36,062 |
ShowHide the other 18 Virginia colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Mary Washington | Fredericksburg | Public | 33 |
| Radford University | Radford | Public | 23 |
| Bridgewater College | Bridgewater | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| Randolph-Macon College | Ashland | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Roanoke College | Salem | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Brightpoint Community College | Chester | Public | 15 |
| University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Emory & Henry University | Emory | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Averett University | Danville | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk | Public | 11 |
| Marymount University | Arlington | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Virginia Union University | Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Shenandoah University | Winchester | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Bluefield University | Bluefield | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Hollins University | Roanoke | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Ferrum College | Ferrum | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Randolph College | Lynchburg | 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 Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
Liberty University (319 graduates a year), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (308 graduates a year) and James Madison University (305 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 28 Virginia colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, University of Virginia leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,368, College Scorecard. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and James Madison University follow. By degrees awarded, Liberty University is the largest, with 319 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Virginia tops the list at $47,368. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Virginia is $92,860 (median $80,380), across about 9,990 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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