What you'll do in college
Journalism and media production majors learn to tell stories across platforms—print, broadcast, film, audio, and digital. Coursework covers reporting, writing, editing, multimedia production, media law and ethics, and increasingly data journalism and podcasting. You'll spend time in newsrooms, studios, and editing suites producing real work from your first year.
Many programs run student newspapers, TV stations, or radio stations where you can publish or broadcast before you graduate. Internships at news outlets, production companies, or digital media firms are essential and often lead to first jobs. Communication majors study how messages are created, shared, and interpreted—through speech, writing, social media, and advertising. Coursework includes media theory, public speaking, interpersonal and organizational communication, rhetoric, PR strategy, and digital media literacy.
Many programs include hands-on projects where you design social campaigns, write press releases, or develop communication strategies for real clients. Internships at PR agencies, corporate communications departments, or nonprofits are essential.
What you'll do after college
Grads work as reporters, editors, producers, videographers, podcast hosts, technical writers, and multimedia journalists at newspapers, TV and radio stations, streaming platforms, production studios, and digital media companies. Some go into science or data journalism, others into documentary filmmaking or audio production.
The industry has been reshaped by digital platforms—many roles now require comfort with video, audio, and social distribution alongside traditional writing. Pay is moderate but can rise with specialization, and the work offers a front-row seat to the world. They work in public relations, corporate communications, marketing, advocacy, and nonprofits. Common roles include communications associate, PR specialist, social media strategist, media relations coordinator, and speechwriter.
The work is strategic and people-oriented, increasingly data-driven as organizations track the impact of every message. Pay is moderate at the entry level but rises with experience, and the major is valued because employers in many fields want people who can write clearly, present confidently, and manage a narrative.
Famous graduates
- Spike Lee — Legendary filmmaker; B.A. in Mass Communication from Morehouse College
- Erin Andrews — Prominent sports broadcaster; B.A. in Telecommunications from University of Florida
- Al Roker — Television personality and weather anchor; B.A. in Communications from SUNY Oswego
- Oprah Winfrey — Media mogul and host; B.A. in Speech Communications from Tennessee State University
Selectivity vs. earnings
By acceptance rate
By SAT median
Majors in this category
| Major | Colleges | Degrees ▼ | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication & Journalism | 1,069 | 63,797 | 36% / 64% | 4% | $56,616 |
| 582 | 20,649 | 37% / 63% | 5% | $55,477 | |
| 284 | 8,099 | 35% / 65% | 3% | $55,407 | |
| 181 | 6,433 | 37% / 63% | 2% | $55,164 | |
| 55 | 4,194 | 38% / 62% | 4% | $54,927 | |
| 159 | 2,868 | 18% / 82% | 1% | $60,735 | |
| 34 | 2,357 | 34% / 66% | 4% | $56,077 | |
| 138 | 1,510 | 43% / 57% | 2% | $50,329 | |
| 75 | 1,139 | 38% / 62% | 7% | $58,243 | |
| 51 | 1,091 | 55% / 45% | 2% | $48,963 | |
| 25 | 1,027 | 23% / 77% | 2% | $66,498 | |
| 83 | 1,019 | 50% / 50% | 7% | $50,539 | |
| 25 | 992 | 30% / 70% | 2% | $55,373 | |
| 21 | 989 | 21% / 79% | 7% | $63,408 | |
| 37 | 657 | 34% / 66% | 6% | $56,928 | |
| 1 | 634 | 30% / 70% | 10% | $70,846 | |
| 58 | 624 | 79% / 21% | 2% | $62,041 | |
| 1 | 598 | 35% / 65% | 2% | $65,591 | |
| 40 | 555 | 54% / 46% | 2% | $52,738 | |
| 48 | 519 | 35% / 65% | 2% | $61,155 | |
| 13 | 511 | 34% / 66% | 2% | $57,611 | |
| 4 | 495 | 35% / 65% | 8% | $57,776 | |
| 35 | 485 | 18% / 82% | 7% | $52,469 | |
| 1 | 452 | 48% / 52% | 3% | $65,974 | |
| 8 | 358 | 21% / 79% | 1% | $70,381 | |
| 1 | 348 | 39% / 61% | 4% | $68,708 | |
| 12 | 344 | 57% / 43% | 3% | $47,584 | |
| 2 | 321 | 15% / 85% | 12% | $78,817 | |
| 11 | 303 | 4% / 96% | 1% | $59,234 | |
| 6 | 298 | 47% / 53% | 2% | $48,969 | |
| 3 | 230 | 30% / 70% | 2% | $65,845 | |
| 1 | 211 | 22% / 78% | 10% | $86,506 | |
| 4 | 175 | 47% / 53% | 15% | $51,159 | |
| 9 | 154 | 21% / 79% | 1% | $65,118 | |
| 2 | 147 | 50% / 50% | 0% | $53,128 | |
| 1 | 137 | 23% / 77% | 1% | ||
| 7 | 131 | 9% / 91% | 1% | $58,434 | |
| 5 | 127 | 23% / 77% | 2% | ||
| 2 | 118 | 20% / 80% | 6% | $71,154 | |
| 3 | 110 | 41% / 59% | 0% | $57,135 | |
| 1 | 109 | 44% / 56% | 2% | $69,819 | |
| 1 | 107 | 46% / 54% | 0% | $48,409 | |
| 1 | 106 | 78% / 22% | 1% | ||
| 21 | 102 | 20% / 80% | 1% | $61,887 | |
| 2 | 101 | 50% / 50% | 4% | $60,854 | |
| 1 | 96 | 64% / 36% | 0% | $42,294 | |
| 1 | 95 | 62% / 38% | 0% | $52,454 | |
| 2 | 90 | 60% / 40% | 0% | $56,632 | |
| 1 | 90 | 49% / 51% | 9% | $49,946 | |
| 2 | 86 | 47% / 53% | 0% | $58,226 | |
| 1 | 85 | 35% / 65% | 0% | $52,454 | |
| 9 | 77 | 38% / 62% | 6% | $63,600 | |
| 8 | 74 | 14% / 86% | 0% | ||
| 4 | 74 | 12% / 88% | 0% | $56,343 | |
| 1 | 66 | 18% / 82% | 0% | $58,515 | |
| 9 | 63 | 25% / 75% | 2% | $55,877 | |
| 1 | 63 | 21% / 79% | 8% | $53,644 | |
| 4 | 62 | 34% / 66% | 3% | $73,661 | |
| 1 | 62 | 29% / 71% | 0% | ||
| 7 | 58 | 38% / 62% | 0% | $56,892 | |
| 1 | 54 | 52% / 48% | 20% | $70,646 | |
| 2 | 53 | 72% / 28% | 0% | $56,558 | |
| 8 | 48 | 40% / 60% | 0% | $59,958 | |
| 6 | 48 | 38% / 62% | 2% | $61,520 | |
| 6 | 45 | 49% / 51% | 0% | $60,630 | |
| 2 | 43 | 26% / 74% | 2% | $57,280 | |
| 1 | 37 | 24% / 76% | 0% | $48,863 | |
| 1 | 36 | 17% / 83% | 3% | $78,498 | |
| 2 | 35 | 37% / 63% | 0% | $47,794 | |
| 5 | 34 | 32% / 68% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 33 | 21% / 79% | 15% | $67,658 | |
| 2 | 32 | 47% / 53% | 22% | $73,901 | |
| 1 | 32 | 28% / 72% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 31 | 45% / 55% | 6% | $41,201 | |
| 1 | 24 | 38% / 62% | 8% | ||
| 1 | 19 | 42% / 58% | 5% | ||
| 3 | 16 | 88% / 12% | 6% | ||
| 1 | 15 | 60% / 40% | 7% | ||
| 1 | 13 | 38% / 62% | 0% | $46,367 | |
| 1 | 11 | 36% / 64% | 9% | $53,938 | |
| 5 | 9 | 33% / 67% | 22% | ||
| 1 | 8 | 62% / 38% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 8 | 62% / 38% | 25% | ||
| 1 | 8 | 50% / 50% | 0% | $54,723 | |
| 1 | 6 | 50% / 50% | 17% | $67,164 | |
| 1 | 5 | 20% / 80% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 5 | 60% / 40% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 4 | 50% / 50% | 25% | ||
| 1 | 3 | 33% / 67% | 33% | ||
| 1 | 2 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $71,262 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0% / 100% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 1 | 100% / 0% | 0% | $60,671 | |
| 1 | 1 | 100% / 0% | 0% | $48,214 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0% / 100% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 1 | 0% / 100% | 0% |