Communication Studies is an excellent way to use study abroad as a springboard for furthering your interests in cross-cultural communication and media globalization. Communication majors use quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the social, cultural, and psychological effects of communication processes, technologies, and media.
Students who enrol in a subject within the school of communications or who major in communications directly can enter a diverse range of fields. Journalism, photojournalism, radio broadcasting, advertising, publishing, graphic design, and other fields are available.
Several opportunities are available for international students who want to study communications in the US. The importance of media, messages, culture, and interaction is taught to students at the best communications colleges in the US.
Communication arts courses address these fields from theoretical, practical, and artistic viewpoints. The course offered by USA's universities is aimed at helping students gain a better grasp of communication processes, increase communication and digital literacy abilities, and develop critical thinking and reflection skills.
Graduates from the USA's top universities of this course work in corporate communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, law, sales, counselling, advertising, and education. Studying communication enriches students' lives and opens up exciting career opportunities.
The United States offers some of the top universities for communication, whether in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, advertising, or telecommunications.
Global ranking of some of the top universities in the USA for Communication Courses
Popularly offered as majors, standalone courses, and dual degrees, communication courses are offered at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate levels by top universities in the USA. Based on QS Rankings 2023 by subject "Communication and Media Studies," here is a list of top universities in the United States offering the course.
QS Ranking 2023 |
Universities |
2 |
University of Southern California |
5 |
University of Texas at Austin |
4 |
Stanford University |
7 |
University of Pennsylvania |
8 |
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
9 |
Michigan State University |
10 |
New York University (NYU) |
12 |
University of California, Berkeley (UCB) |
12 |
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor |
16 |
Northwestern University |
18 |
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
16 |
Columbia University |
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Programs for Bachelors in Communication with tuition fees in the USA
Communication is available as a pathway course, a bachelor’s degree (major or minor), or an honours program. At the undergraduate level, communication, offered as a major in a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, is a three-to-four-year program.
For individuals interested in a career in broadcasting, advertising, business, media, marketing, consulting, politics, administration, public relations, or many other fields related to communications, universities in the USA offer Bachelor of Communication degrees.
These undergraduate degrees are appropriate for individuals who have completed high school or are working professionals returning to school.
A communication in bachelor's degree can prepare students for entry-level employment or further study in a master's or doctoral program in the United States or abroad.
The tuition fees for bachelor's degree courses for international students in the USA are listed below.
Universities/Colleges |
Courses |
Tuition fees per annum |
University of Southern California |
Communication (BA) |
$63,468 |
University of Texas at Austin |
Communication and Media Studies |
$39,834 |
Stanford University |
BA Communication major |
$36,982 |
University of Pennsylvania |
General Communication, BA |
$3,674 per course unit |
Communication: Communication & Public Service, BA |
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Communication: Audiences & Persuasion, BA |
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Communication: Advocacy & Activism, BA |
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University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Communication Arts: BA |
$39,354 |
Michigan State University |
Bachelor of Arts in Communication |
$40,562 |
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Leadership and Strategy |
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Northwestern University |
Undergraduate Major in Communication Studies |
$60,276 |
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
Bachelor of Arts (Communication) |
$13,804 + $31,026 = $44,830 |
Academic Requirement:
- Completion of higher secondary education or equivalent.
- A minimum score of 60% is required.
- Composite 24 ACT or 1160 SAT or higher.
English Language Requirement:
- A minimum TOEFL score of 80 overall.
- A minimum IELTS score of 5.5 to 6.0 overall.
Programs for Masters in Communication with tuition fees in the USA
Many universities offer postgraduate taught degrees in communication studies as Master of Arts or Master of Science. These programs typically last one to two years full-time.
Students can develop essential abilities in the current workplace by taking communication courses as part of their master's degree.
After finishing the degree, its focus enables the student to select from a wide range of employment opportunities across numerous industries like media and the corporate sector of the USA.
The tuition fees for master's degree courses for international students in the USA are listed below.
Universities/Colleges |
Courses |
Tuition fees per annum |
University of Southern California |
Master of Science in Communication Data Science |
$63,468 |
Master of Communication Management |
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Global Communication / Global Media (Dual Degree) |
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University of Texas at Austin |
Communication (MA) |
$26,652 |
Stanford University |
Coterminal M.A. in Communication |
$23,540 |
University of Pennsylvania |
Intercultural Communication, MSEd |
$ 21,438 |
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Communication Arts, M.A. |
$25,504 |
Michigan State University |
Master of Arts in Communication |
$29,496 |
Northwestern University |
Master of Science in Communication |
$70,719 total course fee |
Columbia University |
Master of Science in Strategic Communication |
$2,428 per credit *36 = $87,408 (total course fee) |
Academic Requirement:
- Completion of a 4-years bachelor's degree in communication or a relevant field such as behavioural, biological, physical, computational, or social sciences.
- A GRE Verbal Score of at least 153, and a GRE Quantitative Score of at least 144 is required.
English Language Requirement:
- A minimum TOEFL score of 95 overall.
- A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 to 7.0 overall.
Programs for PhD in Communication with tuition fees in the USA
The Doctor of Philosophy in Communications degree program takes a multidisciplinary approach to studying media and people in cultural, social, political, historical, economic, and technological contexts.
A few universities in the US offer doctorates in communication. Here is a list of postgraduate research degrees offered by some of the finest universities in the USA and the tuition fees per academic year for international students.
Universities/Colleges |
Courses |
Tuition fees per annum |
University of Southern California |
Communication (PhD) |
$63,468 |
University of Texas at Austin |
PhD in communication |
$26,652 |
Stanford University |
PhD in political communication |
$23,540 |
University of Pennsylvania |
Communication, PhD |
$ 19,919 |
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Communication Arts, Ph.D. |
$25,504 |
Northwestern University |
PhD in Communication Studies |
$18,689 *8= $149,512 |
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in Communication |
$32,858 |
Columbia University |
PhD in Communications |
$65,949 |
Academic Requirement:
- A Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
- A master's degree in communication or related field from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0 to 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- A GRE Verbal Score of at least 153 and a GRE Quantitative Score of at least 144 a required.
English Language Requirement:
- A minimum TOEFL score of 100 overall.
- A minimum IELTS score of 7.0 overall.
Top Communication Universities in the USA: Specializations
Students choose one of these concentrations within the Communication Studies degree program:
- Interpersonal Communication
- Corporate Communication
- Political Communication
- Media and cultural studies
- Communication Science and Rhetorical Studies
Schools excelling in communications offer related courses as specialization in the field:
- Journalism
- Advertising
- Broadcasting
- Public Relation
- Film Making and Videography
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Top Communication Universities in the USA: Scholarships
Communication courses are exciting and appealing and thus competitive. Receiving a good education, both as an undergrad degree and potentially as a graduate program, is among the best ways to get your foot in the door. And, in most cases, you get what you pay for—a good but costly education.
Fortunately, numerous scholarship opportunities are available for international students in the United States. There are even communications scholarships available only to students enrolled in the courses.
Universities |
Scholarships |
Amount |
University of Southern California |
Annenberg Scholarships and Awards |
Criteria: Based on financial need Value: $2,500 |
Sacramento Press Club Journalism Scholarships Amount: $4,000-$8,000 |
Criteria: Based on academics Amount: $4,000-$8,000 |
|
Stanford University |
Stanford University Scholarship |
Amount: $20,000 |
University of Pennsylvania |
Hispanic Scholarship Fund |
Criteria: Based on financial need Amount: up to $15,000 |
Northwestern University |
Northwestern University Scholarship |
Amount: $250 to over $40,000 annually |
Top Communication Universities in the USA: Scope
Communication and media studies majors have many career options because most industries require team communications personnel. Advertising, marketing, public relations, television, journalism, social media, graphic design, sales, event planning, and translation are all common careers for communications majors.
A master's degree in communications may be required for management and executive-level positions in some companies and for academic and teaching positions. Communication majors from overseas, especially in the United States, have various professional choices. Graduates may work in offices, newsrooms, and medical facilities. They may even work for charitable groups, the government, or corporations.
Since there are so many different paths that one can take in the field of communication, it is advantageous for international students to specialize by choosing a concentration in a subject like public relations, journalism, or advertising.
Job Title |
Range |
Average |
Recruitment Manager |
$64k - $119k |
$87,685 |
Human Resources (HR) Manager |
$42k - $77k |
$56,944 |
Human Resources (HR) Director |
$67k - $123k |
$91,772 |
Marketing Manager |
$46k - $97k |
$67,199 |
Communications Manager |
$50k - $96k |
$69,439 |
Director of Communications |
$54k - $169k |
$96,080 |
Communications Specialist |
$40k - $79k |
$55,077 |
Communications Coordinator |
$35k - $65k |
$46,046 |