Best Master’s in Mass Communication and Media Studies Programs

The mass media continues to play a critical role in distilling and transmitting information to the public. Top mass communication graduate programs typically blend traditional media forms, such as journalism and public relations, with new media technologies.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 3% growth rate for media and communication occupations between 2022 and 2032, about as fast as the average growth rate for all occupations. The median annual salary for these professionals is $66,320 as of May 2023, much higher than the $48,060 average for all occupations.

Explore our ranking of some of the nation’s top on-campus and online master’s in mass communication and media studies programs.

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

Graduates from mass communication programs can pursue well-paying careers such as editors, writers and authors, public relations specialists, and news analysts and reporters.

The BLS reports the annual median salaries for a variety of media and communication occupations as of 2023:

Students enrolled in mass communication graduate programs complete 30-36 credits of coursework on campus and/or online. While each school’s curriculum varies, some common themes stand out.

Students usually explore the history of communication and mass media, types of communication media, and their influence on culture and society. Some programs allow students to focus on a specialization such as political communication or public relations.

This course explores major theories in mass communication and their application in politics, advertising, and other contexts. Students examine research and case studies that demonstrate the influence of mass media on American culture and society.

This course teaches students how to critically analyze content in mass media, such as newspaper articles and broadcast news. Students learn how to deconstruct the messaging, understand the motivation, and evaluate audience impact.

This course examines the fundamentals of public relations and its role in shaping public perception. Students explore topics such as media relations, strategic communication planning, content development, and crisis communication.

This course explores the history of journalism through the 20th and 21st centuries. Students explore topics such as investigative journalism, effective story-telling, data-driven journalism, and emerging media platforms.

This course explores the evolution of digital and social media over the past few decades, including the various technologies and their use to shape political discourse, build brands, and gather information.

Admission to a mass communication graduate program usually requires a bachelor’s degree, a minimum 2.8-3.0 GPA, college transcripts, and letters of recommendation.

Most graduate schools do not require a specific major or prerequisite coursework for admission to this program. However, majors such as English, political science, marketing, and communications make an especially good fit.

Many schools no longer require GRE test scores, though applicants may submit them to bolster the application.