Sharpen your critical thinking skills and pave your pathway to success with an online master's in communications.
If you are seeking the skills necessary to succeed in a wide variety of careers, a degree in communications might be the program for you. In one of these degrees, you will learn how to express your ideas in a wide variety of formats – and to increasingly diverse audiences. Whether you are seeking employment as a public relations specialist or as a technical writer, a master's in communications can help you achieve the skills and notoriety you need to be successful.
What kind of communications degree should you get?
If you are a strong writer and speaker, you likely already have some of the qualifications needed to be successful in the communications industry. However, finding the right program can be tricky. You should look for a degree that provides you with essential training in topics such as technology, digital media strategies, organizational leadership, and advertising, for example.
If you are already working in the communications field – or looking to change from an existing career into a communications pathway – it can be difficult to find the time to pursue a degree. An online program can provide you with the flexibility and affordability you need to be successful. Still not sure if an online degree in communications is the right choice for you? Make sure you check out our comprehensive ranking of the Best Online Colleges and Universities for a broader view of the best schools.
How much money do people make with a master's degree in communications?
Your average salary and job growth after receiving a communications degree will likely vary depending on the specific career you pursue. These jobs are expected to grow at an average pace by 2026, with an expected addition of 43,200 new jobs. The demand for these positions remains high as more professionals are needed to create, disperse, and edit new information across a variety of digital, print, and multimedia platforms.
Depending on the career you choose, you can expect to earn an average salary of about $57,530 per year. This is considerably higher than the median wage for all occupations, and many professionals earn even more. The highest paid individuals in the communications sector, those who are employed in technical writing, earn well over $70,000 per year.
What can you do with a master's degree in communications?
With a degree in communications, there are a wealth of opportunities available to you. You might choose to become a public relations specialist, working to maintain favorable public images for organizations or individuals, or you could go into social media marketing. You might find yourself working as a photographer, a writer, or an editor, or you could become a broadcast news analyst.
What do all of these careers have in common? They require you to think on your feet to craft favorable messages for the individuals, organizations, or ideas you represent. As a communications professional, you will constantly be innovating, creating, and broadcasting purposeful messages to a wide variety of audiences.
What are the requirements for a master's degree in communications?
To obtain a master's degree in communications, you will need to first complete an undergraduate program of study. Although this degree should ideally be in a communications-related field, such as English, journalism, or marketing, you could easily pursue graduate studies in communications after completing an unrelated undergraduate program. You may also be required to take and submit scores from the GRE.
While enrolled, you will take classes in the humanities as well as in topics that are specific to your individual communications pathway. For example, you might take electives in technical writing, public relations, or broadcast journalism, depending on your final career goals.
What are the best online master's degrees in communication?
We've found that the best degrees are those that offer not only fair prices, but ample flexibility and convenience as well! To find the best degrees for you, we look at the best schools in the country based on reputation, student satisfaction, program quality, and return on investment. Then we review the bottom line – just how much is this going to cost? Check out ourmethodology page for a more in-depth description of our data.
Once we determine all of the above, we curate a list of stellar schools for you! These not only represent the best degrees you can get, but also ones that will fit your budget. Check out our picks below!
