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Doctor's Degree in Communication & Media Studies

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Doctor’s Degrees in Communication & Media Studies

499 Yearly Graduations
$63,661 Median Salary
$115,215 Median Debt
A doctor's degree in communications is offered at 80 colleges in the United States. In recent years, the majority of the students getting degrees in this area were female, and 16% were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Also, 29.7% of communications graduates were international students.

Education Levels of Communications Majors

During the most recent year for which data is available, 499 people earned their doctor's degree in communications. This makes it the 56th most popular doctor's degree program in the country.

The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in communications at each degree level.

Education Level Number of Grads
Master’s Degree 4,471
Doctor’s Degree 499
Graduate Certificate 355

Earnings of Communications Majors With Doctor’s Degrees

The median salary for graduates holding a doctor's degree in communications is $63,661. This number may vary for a lot of reasons. For instance, you may decide to move to a location where people with your degree are rare and make more money. To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $52,425 to a high of $68,513.

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Student Debt

The median student debt for graduates holding a doctor's degree in communications is $115,215. The school you go to and how long it takes you to graduate, among other things, can cause this number to vary. The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $115,215 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $115,215.

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Student Diversity

More women than men pursue their doctor's degree in communications. About 67.5% of graduates with this degree are female.

Gender Number of Grads
Men 162
Women 337
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The racial-ethnic distribution of communications doctor’s degree students is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 20
Black or African American 25
Hispanic or Latino 21
White 247
International Students 148
Other Races/Ethnicities 38
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There are 80 colleges that offer a doctor’s degree in communications. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:

#1

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
19 Yearly Graduations
71% Women
7% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The most popular school in the United States for communications students seekinga doctor's degree is Michigan State University. Roughly 49,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,437 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $20,202 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 19 people received their doctor's degree in communications from Michigan State. About 71% of this group were women, and 7% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#2

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
18 Yearly Graduations
92% Women
8% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Southern California comes in at #2 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in communications. Roughly 46,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $63,468 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $63,468 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 18 people received their doctor's degree in communications from USC. Of these students, 92% were women and 8% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#3

Regent University

Virginia Beach, Virginia
14 Yearly Graduations
50% Women
21% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 3rd most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Regent University. Roughly 10,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $18,080 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,028 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 14 people received their doctor's degree in communications from Regent. Of these students, 50% were women and 21% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#3

Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus

University Park, Pennsylvania
14 Yearly Graduations
83% Women
17% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 3rd most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus. Each year, around 0 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $19,286 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $24,466 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 14 people received their doctor's degree in communications from Penn State University Park. About 83% of this group were women, and 17% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

13 Yearly Graduations
67% Women
22% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 5th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Arizona State University - Tempe. Roughly 74,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,978 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,014 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 13 people received their doctor's degree in communications from ASU - Tempe. About 67% of this group were women, and 22% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#5

University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon
13 Yearly Graduations
70% Women

The 5th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Oregon. Roughly 21,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,674 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,011 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 13 people received their doctor's degree in communications from UO.

#7

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, Alabama
12 Yearly Graduations
63% Women
13% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 7th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is The University of Alabama. Roughly 37,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,100 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,100 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 12 people received their doctor's degree in communications from UA. About 63% of this group were women, and 13% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#7

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
12 Yearly Graduations
77% Women
31% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Florida is the 7th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in communications. Roughly 53,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $4,477 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,770 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 12 people received their doctor's degree in communications from UF. Around 31% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 77% were women.

#9

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, Wisconsin
11 Yearly Graduations
71% Women
6% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 9th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Wisconsin - Madison. Each year, around 44,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,273 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,728 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 11 people received their doctor's degree in communications from UW - Madison. Around 6% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 71% were women.

#10

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
10 Yearly Graduations
55% Women
9% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Georgia comes in at #10 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in communications. Roughly 39,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,790 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,878 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 10 people received their doctor's degree in communications from UGA. Of these students, 55% were women and 9% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

10 Yearly Graduations
50% Women

The 10th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Ohio University - Athens Campus. Roughly 25,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $13,352 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,444 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 10 people received their doctor's degree in communications from OHIO Athens.

#10

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10 Yearly Graduations
64% Women

The 10th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Pennsylvania. Each year, around 26,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $56,212 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $39,838 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 10 people received their doctor's degree in communications from UPenn.

#13

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, Colorado
9 Yearly Graduations
50% Women
17% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 13th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Colorado Boulder. Each year, around 37,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,004 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $15,251 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 9 people received their doctor's degree in communications from CU - Boulder. About 50% of this group were women, and 17% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#13

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
9 Yearly Graduations
58% Women
8% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 13th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Indiana University - Bloomington. Roughly 43,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,012 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,033 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 9 people received their doctor's degree in communications from IU Bloomington. Of these students, 58% were women and 8% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#13

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
9 Yearly Graduations
83% Women
33% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 13th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Roughly 30,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,019 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,552 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 9 people received their doctor's degree in communications from UNC Chapel Hill. About 83% of this group were women, and 33% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#13

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
9 Yearly Graduations
67% Women

The 13th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Texas Tech University. Roughly 40,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,935 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,956 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 9 people received their doctor's degree in communications from Texas Tech.

8 Yearly Graduations
86% Women
29% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in communications. Roughly 52,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,542 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,891 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 8 people received their doctor's degree in communications from UIUC. About 86% of this group were women, and 29% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#17

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
8 Yearly Graduations
92% Women
25% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Maryland - College Park comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in communications. Roughly 40,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,695 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,238 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 8 people received their doctor's degree in communications from UMCP. Of these students, 92% were women and 25% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#17

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts
8 Yearly Graduations
67% Women
11% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 17th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Massachusetts Amherst. Each year, around 31,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,186 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,364 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 8 people received their doctor's degree in communications from UMass Amherst. Of these students, 67% were women and 11% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#17

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
8 Yearly Graduations
60% Women
20% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 17th most popular school in the country for communications majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Temple University. Roughly 37,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $20,173 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $20,531 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 8 people received their doctor's degree in communications from Temple. Of these students, 60% were women and 20% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

Communications Concentrations

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
237
152
61
49

Below are some popular majors that are similar to communications that offer doctor’s degrees.

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
61
22
18
5

References

*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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