Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Wisconsin
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and University of Wisconsin-La Crosse are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Wisconsin by graduate earnings. University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,673, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Wisconsin: 326, 146 and 137 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 25 Wisconsin colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 1,051 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 Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,673 | 34 | 46% | — | $26,534 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,333 | 34 | 64% | — | $22,730 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,293 | 80 | 71% | — | $24,455 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,367 | 137 | 59% | — | $26,000 |
| 5 | Saint Norbert College De Pere Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,287 | 29 | 71% | $23,319 | $26,262 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,040 | 146 | 49% | — | $26,000 |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,807 | 35 | 48% | — | $24,625 |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,286 | 326 | 90% | — | $23,250 |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin-Parkside Kenosha Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,107 | 46 | 40% | — | $26,000 |
| 10 | Marquette University Milwaukee Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,443 | 28 | 83% | $25,376 | $23,531 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin-Madison Madison Public | 326 | $37,286 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee Public | 146 | $38,040 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater Public | 137 | $39,367 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse Public | 80 | $40,293 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Parkside Kenosha Public | 46 | $37,107 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay Public | 35 | $37,807 |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire Public | 34 | $40,333 |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh Public | 34 | $40,673 |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point Public | 31 | $35,724 |
| 10 | Saint Norbert College De Pere Private not-for-profit | 29 | $38,287 |
ShowHide the other 15 Wisconsin colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette University | Milwaukee | Private not-for-profit | 28 |
| University of Wisconsin-Superior | Superior | Public | 18 |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls | River Falls | Public | 18 |
| Carthage College | Kenosha | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Edgewood University | Madison | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Carroll University | Waukesha | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Beloit College | Beloit | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Concordia University - Wisconsin | Mequon | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Maranatha Baptist University | Watertown | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Ripon College | Ripon | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Wisconsin Lutheran College | Milwaukee | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Lakeland University | Plymouth | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Mount Mary University | Milwaukee | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Alverno College | Milwaukee | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Northcentral Technical College | Wausau | Public | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Wisconsin
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Wisconsin.
Which Wisconsin colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
University of Wisconsin-Madison (326 graduates a year), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (146 graduates a year) and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (137 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Wisconsin, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 25 Wisconsin colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Wisconsin?+
By graduate earnings, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Wisconsin, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,673, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and University of Wisconsin-La Crosse follow. By degrees awarded, University of Wisconsin-Madison is the largest, with 326 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Wisconsin has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh tops the list at $40,673. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Wisconsin?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Wisconsin is $73,830 (median $67,240), across about 4,410 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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