2020 Most Affordable Online Master's in Communications
All 25 of these colleges and universities offer affordable online master's in communications programs. Ranked #1, Fitchburg State University charges $4,230 per year for their Master of Science in Applied Communication - Social Media. Available courses include Intercultural Communication Competence, New and Emerging Media, and Visual Communication and Design. Second-ranked Fort Hays State University is a similarly affordable option, with an annual tuition of only $4,604.
You can read more about our ranked schools below or browse our rankings of the most affordable online bachelor's in communications degrees. View our methodology or learn more about OnlineU.
All tuition numbers were manually collected and verified
| Rank | School | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Fitchburg State University | $4,230 | |
| Fort Hays State University | $4,604 | |
| Missouri State University | $4,720 | |
| Eastern Illinois University | $5,210 | |
| Texas Tech University | $5,295 | |
| Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | $5,838 | |
| University of Central Missouri | $5,854 | |
| Stephen F. Austin State University | $6,060 | |
| University of Alabama | $6,300 | |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | $6,511 | |
| Minnesota State University at Mankato | $7,266 | |
| Southern Utah University | $7,292 | |
| Spalding University | $7,310 | |
| Troy University | $7,410 | |
| South Dakota State University | $7,452 | |
| University of Kansas | $7,500 | |
| University of Louisiana-Monroe | $7,500 | |
| Tiffin University | $7,875 | |
| Washburn University | $7,935 | |
| The University of Findlay | $8,025 | |
| Edinboro University of Pennsylvania | $8,520 | |
| Morehead State University | $8,550 | |
| Kansas State University | $8,613 | |
| Murray State University | $8,704 | |
| Wilmington University | $8,784 |
- Annual Tuition: $4,230
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: NECHE
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 3,036
- Example Classes: Integrated Social Media; Intercultural Communication Competence; New and Emerging Media; Social Media Marketing; Social Mobilities; Visual Communication and Design
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Science in Applied Communication - Social Media
- Annual Tuition: $4,604
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 2,743
- Example Classes: Corporate Communication; Managerial Communication; Managerial Reports & Presentations; Problems in Business Communication
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Business Administration - Corporate Communication
- Master of Liberal Studies - Corporate Communications
- Annual Tuition: $4,720
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 3,559
- Example Classes: Applied Communication Research Methods; Quantitative Analysis in Communication Research; Rhetorical Analysis in Communication Research; Theory and Research in Communication
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Professional Studies - Applied Communication
- Annual Tuition: $5,210
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,514
- Example Classes: Communication Pedagogy; Digital Communication; Intercultural Communication; Interpersonal Communication; Small Group and Team Communication; Social Interaction
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Communication Studies - Communication and Leadership
- Annual Tuition: $5,295
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 6,252
- Example Classes: Discourse and Technology; Document Design; Ethics in Technical Communication; Foundations of Technical Communication; History of Rhetoric; Online Publishing; Written Discourse and Social Issues
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Communication Studies
- Master of Arts in Mass Communication (Non-Thesis Option)
- Master of Arts in Mass Communication (Thesis Option)
- Master of Arts in Master of Arts in Technical Communication - Technical Communication
- Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Innovation
- Master of Arts in Technical Communication
- Annual Tuition: $5,838
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,305
- Example Classes: Communication and Social Change; Communication Research Methods; Directing for Television; Mass Media and Society; Race, National Identity and Media; Rhetoric and Popular Culture
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Communication (Non-Thesis)
- Master of Arts in Communication (Thesis)
- Annual Tuition: $5,854
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 2,187
- Example Classes: Advanced Organizational Communication; Communication and Crisis in Organizations; International Communication: Global Marketing & PR; MA International Communication: Global Marketing & PR; MA Social Influence; Social Influence; Strategic Communication Audits
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Communication
- Master of Arts in Communication - Applied Communication
- Annual Tuition: $6,060
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,746
- Example Classes: International Media; Management Problems in Media; Media & Politics; Media & Society; Media Law & Ethics; Media Sales
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Mass Communication - Advertising and Public Relations (Media Project Option)
- Master of Arts in Mass Communication - Advertising and Public Relations (Non-Thesis Option)
- Master of Arts in Mass Communication - Advertising and Public Relations (Thesis Option)
- Master of Arts in Mass Communication - Broadcasting (Media Project Option)
- Master of Arts in Mass Communication - Broadcasting (Non-Thesis)
- Master of Arts in Mass Communication - Broadcasting (Thesis Option)
- Annual Tuition: $6,300
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 5,362
- Example Classes: Communication and Culture; Conflict and Negotiation; Group Leadership; Organizational and Interpersonal Communication; Qualitative Research Methods in Communication; Rhetoric and Political Discourse
Online Master's Degrees
- MA in Advertising and Public Relations - Marketing Communication Management
- MA in Communication Studies
- MA in Communication Studies - Organizational Leadership (Academic Option)
- MA in Communication Studies - Organizational Leadership (Professional Option)
- MA in Journalism
- Annual Tuition: $6,511
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 2,800
- Example Classes: Ethnic and Alternative Media in America; Images of Minorities in the Media; Internet Policy and Regulation; Journalistic Freedom and Responsibility; News Media and the First Amendment; The Press and Propaganda
Online Master's Degrees
- MA in Mass Communication
- MA in Mass Communication - Mass Media Research
- MA in Mass Communication - Professional Mass Media - Multi-Platform Journalism
- MA in Mass Communication - Professional Mass Media - Strategic Communication/Public Relations
- MA in Professional and Technical Writing
- MA in Professional and Technical Writing - Nonfiction
- Annual Tuition: $7,266
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,882
- Example Classes: Communication for Professionals; Communication Pedagogy; Communication Training and Development; Conflict Management; Gender and Communication; Modern Rhetorical Criticism; Organizational Communication; Persuasive Writing Public Issues; Topics in Rhetoric & Culture
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Technical Communication
- Master of Science in Communication and Composition
- Master of Science in Communication Studies
- Master of Science in Cross-Disciplinary Studies
- Annual Tuition: $7,292
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: NWCCU
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 925
- Example Classes: Advertising & Public Relations Strategies; Communication & Digital Culture; Mediated Communication in Relationships; Professional Social Media; Professional Writing and Presentations; Visual Literacy & Application
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Professional Communication
- Annual Tuition: $7,310
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 730
- Example Classes: Data Visualization and Storytelling; Ethics and Business Decision Making; Integrated Marketing Communication; Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace; Organizational Development and Change; Strategic Planning and Implementation
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Science in Business Communication
- Master of Science in Business Communication - Accounting
- Master of Science in Business Communication - Healthcare Management
- Master of Science in Business Communication - Human Resource Management
- Master of Science in Business Communication - Organizational Leadership
- Master of Science in Business Communication - Sports Management
#14 Troy University
- Annual Tuition: $7,410
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 3,529
- Example Classes: Communication and Influence; Communication Law and Ethics; Leadership and Media Strategies; Public Relations and Strategic Communication; Strategic Communication & Emerging Media; Strategic Organizational Communication
Online Master's Degrees
- MS in Strategic Communication
- Annual Tuition: $7,452
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,560
- Example Classes: Cross-Platform Campaigns; Cross-Platform Storytelling; Health Journalism; International Media; Mass Communications Teaching Methods; Media Administration and Management; Media Law Case Studies; Women in Media
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Mass Communication
- Master of Mass Communication - Coursework Only
- Master of Mass Communication - Research
- Annual Tuition: $7,500
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 8,094
- Example Classes: Analyzing Audiences; Information in Context; Social Media Metrics
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Digital Content Strategy
- Annual Tuition: $7,500
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,503
- Example Classes: Mass Communications Theories; Proseminar in Communication; Quantitative Research Methods
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Communication - Strategic Communication
- Annual Tuition: $7,875
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 822
- Example Classes: Cyber Cultures and Issues in Cyberspace; Documentary Film; Logic, Reasoning, and Persuasion; New Media; Philosophy of Communication; Politics and the News; Transmedia Storytelling
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Humanities in Communication
- Annual Tuition: $7,935
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 852
- Example Classes: Leadership and Resource Stewardship; Organizational Improvement and Innovation; Persuasion; Self and Systems Leadership; Seminar in Strategic Management Communications; Team Communication in Organizations
Online Master's Degrees
- MA in Communication and Leadership
- Annual Tuition: $8,025
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,256
- Example Classes: Communication Research Methods; Digital Media and Communication; Organizational Communication and Culture; Presentational Speaking; Strategic Communication; Topics in Identity Management
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Professional Communication
- Annual Tuition: $8,520
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: MSCHE
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,262
- Example Classes: Crisis Management; Integrated Marketing Communication; Managerial and Leadership Communication; Organizational Communication
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Communication Studies
- Master of Arts in Communication Studies - Integrated Marketing Communication
- Master of Arts in Communication Studies - Managerial & Leadership Communication
- Annual Tuition: $8,550
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 800
- Example Classes: Advanced Public Speaking; American Popular Culture and Communication Technology; Bibliographic Research and Writing; Communication Theory; Crisis Communication; Qualitative Research Methods
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Communication - Non-Thesis Option
- Master of Arts in Communication - Thesis Option
- Annual Tuition: $8,613
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 4,352
- Example Classes: Environmental Communications; Issues, Risk and Reputation; Mass Communication Law; Professional Journalism Practicum; Seminar in Issues of the Media; Strategic Health Communication
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Science in Agricultural Education and Communication
- Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering - Communication and Networking
- Master of Science in Mass Communications
- Annual Tuition: $8,704
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,398
- Example Classes: Communication in Instructional Environments; Communication Technology in Organizations; Foundations of Organizational Communication; Interpersonal Communication at Work; Research Methods in Organizational Communication
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Mass Communication
- Master of Arts in Mass Communication - Public Relations
- Master of Arts in Organizational Communication
- Master of Science in Mass Communication
- Master of Science in Mass Communication - Public Relations
- Master of Science in Organizational Communication
- Annual Tuition: $8,784
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: MSCHE
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 5,744
- Example Classes: Communication Analytics; Communication Writing; Global Marketing Management; Multi-Media Communication
Online Master's Degrees
- MBA in Business Communication
- MS in Management - Business Communication