Best Doctorate in Mass Communication and Media Studies Programs

A doctorate in mass communication and media studies prepares graduates to research, teach, or work in fields related to pressing communication issues. Topics span traditional media, web-based media, and social media, as it impacts areas from politics and healthcare to social justice.

Graduates with doctorates in mass communication and media studies often pursue academic research or teaching careers in communication. Some also work in corporate, government, or nonprofit positions as marketing managers, public relations specialists, or communications consultants.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for postsecondary teachers in communication was $77,560 in 2021. The number of positions is projected to grow by 12% from 2020 to 2030. Marketing managers earn a median salary of $133,380 and employment is projected to grow by 10% in the same time period.

Whether through an on-campus or online program, a doctorate in mass communication and media studies can take 3-5 years or more to complete. Several top doctorates in mass communications are fully funded with tuition and a stipend. For others, tuition ranges from $370 to $1,870 per credit hour.

Students need to account for true program costs and time out of the workforce when deciding whether to go into debt for graduate school.

Rankings compiled by the BestColleges Ranking Team

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Each year, the BestColleges Ranking Team evaluates hundreds of programs to produce our annual Best Doctorate in Mass Communication and Media Studies ranking. In 2022, the team sourced the most recent data available from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Navigator, both of which are hosted by the National Center for Education Statistics. We identified 13 schools that qualify for our ranking, listed in alphabetical order. The programs in our list are based on the following criteria.

The BestColleges Ranking Team is made up of contributors from our data science and product management teams. These contributors operate independently from the editorial team. All BestColleges school rankings are produced by the ranking team and are free of editorial influence. Read our Editorial Policy and Standards to learn more.

A doctorate in communications is worth it for professionals who want to pursue academic research or teaching positions. A doctorate in mass communication and media studies can also open senior-level positions in government, nonprofits, or private corporations.

In terms of financial return, qualified candidates may be able to earn assistantships or full funding for the program, including tuition and a stipend for an assistantship. Graduates with a doctorate in mass communication and media studies can pursue careers in public relations or advertising, which — according to the BLS — had median salaries of $62,800 to $133,380 in 2021, respectively.

Many students who earn a Ph.D. in mass communication and media studies pursue academic research, teachers, or professors in communication-related fields. Some graduates also use a doctorate degree to enter media-related industries such as advertising, mass media, public relations, or journalism.

Research topics related to mass communication and media studies include:

A doctorate degree in mass communication and media studies prepares graduates to conduct meaningful research and to teach key topics from politics to social media.

A doctorate in mass communication and media studies takes students 3-5 years or more. Requirements vary by program and institution. Programs range from 48 to 90 credits.

Some doctorates in mass communication and media studies only accept students who have already completed a master’s degree. Others accept students with a bachelor’s in communication or a related field. Previously earned graduate credits can also affect the total time to complete a degree.

Some of the fastest programs use a cohort model for a three-year curriculum that includes research and dissertation preparation.

How much money graduates with a Ph.D. in mass communication and media studies can make depends on the career path, years of experience, and location. According to the BLS, the median salary for post-secondary teachers in the communication field was $77,560 in 2021.

The top 10% of earners had a median salary of $132,720. The bottom 10% of earners had a median salary of $46,640.

Market research analysts and public relations specialists earned a median salary of $30 an hour, while marketing managers earned a median salary of over $60 an hour in 2021.

The highest paying jobs with a doctorate in mass communication and media studies include careers as a marketing manager, where the median salary was $133,380 in 2021. The top 10% of marketing managers had a median salary of $192,520.

Postsecondary teaching is one of the most common careers for doctorates in mass communication and media studies. The top 10% of postsecondary teachers in communication earned a median salary of $132,720. The top 10% of all media and communication workers earned a median salary of $98,070.

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