Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Seattle University and Washington State University are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Washington by graduate earnings. University of Washington-Seattle Campus leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,638, College Scorecard. University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Eastern Washington University and Western Washington University award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Washington: 307, 106 and 101 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 Washington colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 855 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 Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,638 | 307 | 85% | — | $16,433 |
| 2 | Seattle University Seattle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,316 | 24 | 76% | $31,900 | $19,500 |
| 3 | Washington State University Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,747 | 55 | 60% | — | — |
| 4 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,799 | 24 | 86% | $30,006 | $23,375 |
| 5 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,782 | 106 | 43% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,820 | 22 | 54% | — | $18,572 |
| 7 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,857 | 101 | 65% | — | $17,875 |
| 8 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,970 | 31 | 69% | $19,944 | $25,499 |
| 9 | Whitworth University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,305 | 16 | 71% | $23,510 | $21,500 |
| 10 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,260 | 13 | 62% | $24,653 | $25,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Washington
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 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public | 307 | $44,638* |
| 2 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public | 106 | $37,782 |
| 3 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public | 101 | $34,857 |
| 4 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell Public | 79 | $44,638* |
| 5 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 55 | $38,747 |
| 6 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma Public | 39 | $44,638* |
| 7 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma Private not-for-profit | 31 | $33,970 |
| 8 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit | 24 | $37,799 |
| 9 | Seattle University Seattle Private not-for-profit | 24 | $39,316 |
| 10 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public | 22 | $35,820 |
ShowHide the other 5 Washington colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Puget Sound | Tacoma | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Whitworth University | Spokane | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Seattle Pacific University | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Saint Martin's University | Lacey | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Northwest University | Kirkland | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
University of Washington-Seattle Campus (307 graduates a year), Eastern Washington University (106 graduates a year) and Western Washington University (101 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 Washington colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, University of Washington-Seattle Campus leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Washington, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,638, College Scorecard. Seattle University and Washington State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Washington-Seattle Campus is the largest, with 307 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Washington-Seattle Campus tops the list at $44,638. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Washington?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Washington is $95,030 (median $87,470), across about 6,430 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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