2023 Best Online Communications Degrees

National University (NU) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications. Students must complete 180 quarter credit hours, which may take two years if attending full time. Courses are accelerated and last for four weeks, enabling enrollment at any time during the year. Similarly, NU offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communications. NU accepts 89% of applicants, and 34% of students graduate with degrees.

NU delivers online course content and instruction via Brightspace. Distance learners in the online integrated marketing communications program take classes such as Communication Technologies, Intercultural Communications, Digital Marketing, and Communication Campaigns. Additionally, students must complete a capstone project to graduate. The program's curriculum is designed to help students develop the skills to create and implement effective marketing and communication plans once they enter the job market.

The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences - Leadership and Communication. Students may complete this 120-semester-credit program in four years if attending full time. They can also complete a Certificate in Leadership and Communication or a Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology in tandem with a degree. Penn is very competitive, with a 9% acceptance rate; however, the graduation rate is incredibly high at 97%.

Penn uses the Canvas learning management system (LMS) for online curriculum delivery. Students in the online leadership and communication program enroll in courses such as Leadership and Public Administration, Positive Psychology at Work, Leadership Lessons from the Social Sciences, and Global Leadership and Problem-Solving. Students must also create and submit a portfolio to graduate. Then they may pursue roles as managers and directors or become entrepreneurs.

Northeastern University is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Bachelor of Science in Digital Communications and Media through its Global Network. Graduation requires completing 120 semester credit hours, which may take full-time students at least four years. Northeastern accepts 20% of applicants, and 88% of students end up earning degrees.

Northeastern’s distance learners access online coursework and instruction via Canvas. The online Digital Communications and Media program classes include Web and Mobile Development, Consumer Behavior, Organizational Communication, and Managing Communication Projects. Students must complete a senior capstone project to graduate while also designing, implementing, and managing a major communication campaign as participants in a virtual public relations firm. These activities can help prepare graduates for digital communication and media professional jobs.

The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is a public institution offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. Students must complete 120 semester credit hours of coursework to graduate, which can take four years of full-time attendance. Some students opt for UMGC’s online Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Communication, which offers more opportunities for creativity. UMGC has a 100% acceptance and a 28% graduation rate.

UMGC provides the Learning Experience Online (LEO) platform so students can access the online program curriculum. Online communication students enroll in courses such as Public Relations Theory, Mass Media Law, Effective Listening, and Introduction to News Writing. In addition to core classes, they must also complete a senior seminar. Fields of interest after graduation include journalism, public relations, business, and digital communication.

Drexel University is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a Public Relations concentration. This program is organized into four 10-week quarters per year, enabling students to take more classes in a shorter time. Students complete 180 quarter credit hours to graduate, which may take less than four years if attending full time. Drexel accepts 77% of applicants, and 68% of undergraduate students earn degrees.

Drexel delivers online coursework and instruction via the Blackboard LMS. Courses within the online communication curriculum include Introduction to Linguistics, Language and Society, Ethics and the Media, and Technical Communication. This degree program can help prepare students for leadership roles in the field as their careers progress.

Popular for its convenient online programming geared toward working professionals, the University of Phoenix (UP) is a private, for-profit institution offering an online Bachelor of Science in Communication that helps equip students with the written and verbal skills needed for jobs as copywriters, editors, media relations specialists, and other communication professions. Classes are five weeks long and in an accelerated format, allowing students to complete this 120-credit program faster than their peers in traditional programs. UP has an open admission policy and accepts all applicants. It has a 27% graduation rate.

UP delivers its online curriculum via Blackboard. Courses in the online bachelor's degree in communication include Social Media Communication, Technical Communication, Journalism: Writing for Impact, and Global and Intercultural Communication.

Tuscon's University of Arizona (UA) is a Hispanic-serving public institution offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Communication centering on the scientific study of communication, its processes, and its effects. Areas of interest include Arts and Media; Communication, Journalism, and Public Relations; Culture and Language; Psychology and Human Behavior; and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Graduating requires completing 120 credits and generally takes four years of full-time study. UA has an 87% acceptance and a 65% graduation rate.

UA uses Desire2Learn (D2L) to deliver online coursework and instruction to distance learners. Those enrolled in the online communication bachelor's degree take classes such as Introduction to Research Methods in Communication, Nonverbal Communication, Relational Communication, and Communication and Emotion.

Arizona State University (ASU) in Scottsdale is a public institution offering an online Bachelor of Science in Communication and an online Bachelor of Arts in Communication. The main difference is that the Bachelor of Science provides an analytical focus, featuring data analysis and scientific-based understanding. In contrast, the Bachelor of Arts provides an overview of communications with an emphasis on research and humanistic approaches. Both degrees require completing 120 credits and generally take full-time students four years to finish. ASU accepts 70% of applicants, and 47% of students graduate.

ASU's distance learners access Canvas to receive online instruction. Courses in the communications programs include Organizational Communication, Public Speaking, Elements of Interpersonal Communication, and Relational Communication.

The University of Minnesota Online is based in Crookston (UMC) and is a public institution offering an online Bachelor of Science in Communication with three potential areas of emphasis: (1) Communications Studies, (2) Social Media, and (3) Organizational Communication/Public Relations. Students choose an emphasis based on career goals and complete 120 credits, which generally takes four years of full-time study. UMC is competitive, accepting just under half of applicants, and it has a 52% graduation rate.

UMC delivers its online program content and instruction via Canvas. Depending on the emphasis, communication distance learners participate in online courses such as Crisis Communication, Digital Marketing, Political Communication, Communication Technology Trends, and Sports Marketing and Communication. Online students also take an Orientation to Online Learning course at the beginning of the program.

The University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) in Odessa is a Hispanic-serving public institution offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Communication that uniquely explores communication's dark side and demonstrates the critical importance of ethics. Specialty tracks include Communication Studies, Strategic Messaging, Professional Communication, and Sports Media. Graduating requires completing 120 credits, taking full-time students four years on average. UTPB has a 65% acceptance and a 51% graduation rate.

UTPB's distance learners use Canvas to access online program curriculum. Depending on the track, they take courses such as Politics of National Memory, Sports Broadcasting, Health Communication, and Group Leadership. Students can also choose to complete an internship to fulfill graduation requirements.

The University of Colorado Denver (UCD) is a public institution offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Communication with five degree pathways: (1) Global & Intercultural Communication, (2) Health Communication, (3) Strategic Communication, (4) Community Service & Public Affairs, and (5) Media & Cultural Studies. This 120-credit program takes full-time students about four years to complete. Courses are eight weeks long, allowing students to take one at a time to build skills. UCD has a 72% acceptance rate, and 52% of students graduate with degrees.

UCD uses Canvas to deliver online coursework and instruction to distance learners. Depending on the pathway, courses in the online bachelor's in communication include Rhetoric of Medicine and Health, Social Media for Social Change, Digital Democracy, Communication and Food, and Principles of Advertising. Students also complete an exit course to graduate, such as experiential and service learning, collaborative learning, or writing-intensive assignments.

Indiana-based Purdue Global (PG) is a public institution offering an online Bachelor of Science in Communication with concentrations in Business Foundations, Digital Communication, and Public Relations. Graduating requires 120 credits, taking full-time students about two years of full-time study. Service members and veterans can enroll in PG's PME2Degree program to apply military transfer credits toward degree requirements and finish faster. PG has an open admission policy that accepts all applicants, and 30% of students graduate with degrees.

PG delivers its online coursework and instruction via Brightspace. Depending on the concentration, online communication courses include Human Resource Management, Social Media Marketing, Communication Law and Ethics, and Writing for Multimedia. Students also complete a capstone in their final year.

The University of Arkansas (UofA) in Fayetteville is a public institution offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a curriculum integrating personal, group, corporate, and social communication and modern message technology platforms. This 120-credit program takes full-time students approximately four years to finish. UofA accepts 83% of applicants, and 65% of students graduate with degrees, which is higher than average.

UofA's distance learners access Blackboard to receive assignments and instruction remotely. Those enrolled in the online bachelor's degree in communication take courses such as Introduction to Small-Group Communication, Introduction to Mediated Communication, Interpersonal Communication, and Argumentation and Advocacy.

Northern Kentucky University (NKU) is a public institution near the Ohio border offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, providing a well-rounded communications skillset to help students prepare for careers in fields such as teaching, ministry, business, politics, and public relations. Graduating requires completing 120 credits and generally takes full-time students four years. NKU has an 80% acceptance and a 49% graduation rate.

NKU delivers its online programming via the Canvas learning management system. Online communication studies students log in to Canvas as their schedule allows them to complete coursework in classes such as Culture and Communication, Rhetorical Theory and Criticism, Strategies of Persuasion, and Argumentation throughout the week. Introduction to Communication Studies may be substituted for Public Speaking.

Colorado State University - Fort Collins (CSU Fort Collins) is a public institution offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies to help students build proficiencies in three main areas: (1) media and visual culture, (2) relational and organizational studies, and (3) rhetoric and civic engagement. Students must also pick an interdisciplinary certificate, second major, or minor to graduate. Graduating requires completing 120 credits and generally takes four years of full-time study. CSU Fort Collins also offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Communication. It accepts 90% of applicants, and 72% of students graduate with degrees — significantly higher than the national average.

CSU Fort Collins uses Canvas to deliver online coursework and instruction. Classes include Virtual Workplace Communication, Evaluating Contemporary Television, Gender and Communication, and Communication and Popular Culture. Students must also complete a capstone to graduate.

Nebraska's Bellevue University (BU) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an accelerated online Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, with tracks in Mass Media and Organizational and Strategic Communication. This online program requires completing 127 credits, typically taking full-time students around four years. However, students transferring with an associate degree must only complete 67 credits. They may be able to finish in two years. BU has an open admission policy, accepts all applicants, and has a 51% graduation rate.

BU uses Canvas for online curriculum delivery. Depending on the track, communication studies distance learners take courses such as Media Literacy, Writing for Media, Introduction to Business and Professional Communication, and Organization Communication. Graduating also requires completing a capstone project.

Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) in Minnesota is a public institution outside the Twin Cities offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Professional Communication grounded in theory, ethics, application, and real-world experience. Full-time students may be able to finish this 120-credit program in four years. SCSU has a high 94% acceptance rate, and 51% of students graduate with degrees.

SCSU uses the Desire2Learn (D2L) learning management system to deliver coursework and instruction to distance learners. Students in the online bachelor's degree in professional communication choose from classes such as Organizational Communication, Editing and Publishing, Business Communication Strategies, and Rhetoric for Diverse Audiences. In addition to coursework, an internship and capstone project are required to graduate.

Indiana University - East (IU East) in rural Richmond is a public institution offering two online degrees in communications: (1) a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and (2) a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies. The main difference is that the Bachelor of Arts requires more liberal arts and humanities courses. In contrast, the Bachelor of Science requires more science courses. However, both programs require completing 120 credits and generally take full-time students four years. Students may be eligible to transfer up to 64 community college credits or 90 four-year college credits into this program and finish faster. IU East has an 81% acceptance and a 48% graduation rate.

IU East delivers its online curriculum via Canvas. Communication distance learners take courses such as Interpersonal Communication, Foundation of Journalism and Mass Communication, Introduction to Communication and Culture, and Communication Theories. Completing a capstone seminar in communication and culture is also required to graduate.

The Lone Star State's University of Houston - Downtown (UHD) is a public, Hispanic-serving institution offering an online Bachelor of Science in Technical Communication focusing on digital and print documentation production, including professional applications for social media, for careers in technical writing, editing, proposal/grant writing, and social media management. Graduating requires 120 credits and may be completed in four years of full-time study. UHD has a 95% acceptance rate, and 45% of students graduate with degrees.

UHD uses Canvas for online programming delivery. The online technical communication bachelor's program courses include Video Game Story Writing, Medical Writing, Advanced Studies in English Grammar and Style, and Feature Writing for Business and Industry. Completing a field experience and portfolio is also required to graduate.

West Virginia University (WVU) is a public institution in Morgantown offering an online Regents Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies through the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences designed to meet adult learners and nontraditional students' unique needs. Areas of emphasis include Health Communication, Integrated Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Social Media & Communication Technology, and Organizational Communication. Full-time students can potentially finish this 120-credit program in four years, less if receiving college credit for previous professional, volunteer, or military experience. WVU has a 90% acceptance rate and a 61% graduation rate.

WVU's distance learners use Blackboard to access online program content. Depending on the emphasis, they participate in courses such as Dark Side of Communication, Health Communication, Effects of Mediated Communication, and Communication and Aging. Students must also complete a capstone and field experience.

Southern California's California Baptist University (CBU) in Riverside is a private, Hispanic-serving, faith-based institution offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communications to help students cultivate an understanding of historical, cultural, social, global, and political communication dimensions. A program advisor can clarify how many courses are needed to graduate in addition to the required 39 major credits. CBU is competitive, with a 64% acceptance rate, and 61% of students graduate with degrees.

CBU delivers its online curriculum via Blackboard. Online course availability changes each term; an academic advisor can help students determine which classes to take once enrolled. It's important to note that CBU requires that all students complete six credits in religion/biblical studies as part of its core requirements.

The University of Kansas (KU) is a public institution in Lawrence offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies as a degree completion program for students with a minimum of 24 previously-earned transfer credits. A total of 120 credits is required to graduate, which includes 33 in the communication studies major, culminating in a capstone. Full-time students with transfer credits may be able to complete this program in less than four years. KU has a 93% acceptance rate and a 65% graduation rate.

KU delivers its online curriculum via Blackboard. The online communications studies program courses include Communication in a Diverse World, Micro-Level Organizational Communication, Communication and Gender, and Ethical Issues in Political Communication.

The University of Missouri (Mizzou) is a public institution offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Communication with areas of focus in interpersonal communication, mediated communication, organizational communication, and political communication. Students complete 120 credits to graduate, generally taking four years of full-time study, though transferring in credits may shorten that time. Mizzou has a 77% graduation rate, and 70% of students graduate, which is higher than average.

Canvas is Mizzou's learning management system for online study. Depending on the focus, undergraduate communication distance learners take online courses such as Group Decision-Making Processes, Communication Competencies for a Diverse Workplace, Story Development, and Political Public Address. A research project and internship are also required to graduate.

Washington State University (WSU) is a public institution in Pullman offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Strategic Communication through the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. It is designed to help students build content creation and management skills along with market research, branding strategy, and persuasive communication skills. Graduating requires completing 120 credits, which generally takes full-time students four years. WSU has an 86% acceptance and a 61% graduation rate.

WSU uses Canvas to deliver its online programming to distance learners. The online integrated strategic communication bachelor's degree program courses include Digital Content Promotion, Advertising Principles and Practices, Public Relations Management and Campaigns, and Consumer Insights and Branding. Completing a professional internship is required to graduate.

Ohio's University of Cincinnati (UC) is a public institution offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Communication that helps prepare students for the labor market and advanced study in disciplines such as law and business. It generally takes four years for students to complete this 120-credit program. However, students may transfer up to 60 credits into this program, enabling some to finish in less than two years. UC accepts 85% of applicants, and 68% of students graduate with degrees.

Canvas is the learning management system UC uses to deliver its asynchronous online curriculum to students. Communication program distance learners take courses such as Gender and Communication, Environmental Communication, Media and Technology, and Event Planning & Fundraising Management. The program culminates in a capstone in Communication and Contemporary Issues.

Lindenwood University (LU) in St. Charles, Missouri, is a private nonprofit institution offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications - Media Arts and Production and an online Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications - Media Management and Sales, depending on interests and career goals. Each program requires approximately 120 credits and generally takes full-time students four years. LU has a 75% acceptance and a 55% graduation rate.

As with most schools on this list, LU uses Canvas to deliver online coursework and instruction. Depending on the major and online course availability, communication distance learners engage with each other in classes such as Consumer Behavior, Media Planning and Buying, Creative Advertising Concepts, and Television Sports Production.

Massachusett's Bridgewater State University (BSU) is a public institution outside of Boston offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies - Public Relations that can help prepare students for public relations, social-trend research, and public affairs careers. Students complete 120 credits to graduate, generally taking four years of full-time study unless they transfer credits into the program, which can save time. BSU also offers the online Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, with concentrations in communication and media studies as well as film and video arts. BSU accepts 86% of applicants, and 62% of students graduate with degrees.

BSU delivers its online programming via the learning management system Blackboard. The online public relations program courses include Health Communication, Crisis Communication, Strategic Communication for Non-Profits, and Corporate Communications and Social Responsibility. Students must also complete a field experience to graduate.

The University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (UWM) is a public institution offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Communication through the College of Letters & Sciences that allows students to participate in hands-on research opportunities to put skills to practical use. Graduating requires completing 120 credits, taking full-time students about four years. Internships and practicums are optional. UWM has an 89% acceptance and a 50% graduation rate.

Distance learners access UWM's online curriculum via Canvas. Those enrolled in the online communications bachelor's degree program participate in courses such as Rhetoric and the Internet, Decision-Making and Creativity, Contemporary Problems in Freedom of Speech, and African American Public Discourse.

Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) is a public institution offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communications through its World Campus that aims to help students develop modern research, messaging construction, and post-campaign analysis skills. This 120-credit interdisciplinary program takes full-time students approximately four years to complete. Penn State has a 92% acceptance rate, and 70% of its students graduate, which is significantly higher than average.

Penn State uses Canvas to deliver online coursework and instruction to remote learners. Online strategic communication students take classes such as Law of Mass Communications; News Media Ethics; Sports, Media, and Society; and Reaching Multicultural Populations in Strategic Communications.

Located in the heart of New England, Vermont's Champlain College (CC) is a private nonprofit institution offering an online Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Communication with a Digital Marketing focus and a Content Strategy focus. Graduating requires completing 120 credits, 90 of which may be transfer credits. Full-time students can typically finish in four years or less, depending on whether they transfer credits into the program. CC is relatively competitive, with a 62% acceptance rate. It has a higher-than-average 65% graduation rate.

CC's distance learners access online instruction and coursework via Canvas. Depending on the focus, online marketing and communication program courses include Foundations of Visual and Digital Design, Writing for the Web, Media Persuasion, and Social Justice Perspectives.