Seventeen bachelor’s in communications programs in Colorado are regionally accredited to prepare undergrads for running media campaigns in the Centennial State’s $292.5 billion economy.
According to the BLS, Colorado employs 39,060 professionals in the entertainment and media sector for an annual mean wage of $52,410. Communications grads can speak on behalf of Fortune 500 companies like Western Union, Liberty Interactive, Envision Healthcare, and CH2M Hill in Colorado. Others find their voice with media outlets, including Mountain Valley News, KOSI-FM, Sommelier Journal, and KKTV 11 News. Forbes magazine ranked Colorado as America’s #3 best state for future job growth.
If you’re a bubbly, persuasive public speaker, these communications schools in Colorado could open doors.
Colorado Christian University
College of Undergraduate Studies
Originally opened as Denver Bible Institute in 1914, Colorado Christian University has moved to a 53-acre campus at the Rockies foothills in Lakewood to educate 7,379 Cougars under President Donald W. Sweeting’s leadership as a private, interdenominational “College of Distinction.” Featured in the United States’ top 30 colleges for adult learners by Washington Monthly, CCU is crowned the 59th best college campus and 240th best university for communications on Niche. The College of Undergraduate Studies houses one of the traditional bachelor’s in communications programs in Colorado with current tuition at $14,935 per full-time semester.
Communication Major
Conferring a B.A., CCU’s Communication Major trains undergrads with an average class size of 15 to design, present, and evaluate oral or written messages to impact our society for Christ. After the Biblical Studies core, the 33-credit major delves into rhetorical criticism, argumentation, media ethics, public relations, cross-cultural communication, and digital film production with plentiful resources from Clifton L. Fowler Library. Learning opportunities include writing for Veritas, broadcasting on CCU.TV, taking missions trips to Uganda, and joining the Bella Joy Campaign.
Accreditation
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
8787 W. Alameda Avenue
Lakewood, CO 80226
(303) 963-3200
ccuadmissions@ccu.edu
Colorado Mesa University
Languages, Literature and Mass Communication Department
Enrolling 10,662 Mavericks with a $19.2 million endowment, Colorado Mesa University is a public, space-grant master’s institution of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference that’s occupying 86 acres in Grand Junction below the Book Cliffs. Named the West’s 109th best university on Forbes, CMU is declared the 182nd best liberal arts school in America on Niche. Chaired by Dr. Barry Laga, the Languages, Literature and Mass Communication Department opens humanities-related careers for a median starting salary of $34,600 with one of the bachelor’s in communications programs in Colorado.
Mass Communication Program
Revised in 2011, Mesa’s Mass Communication Program awards a Bachelor of Arts in Media Strategies and Applications to let undergrads choose from 30+ courses that instill the practical skills for using cutting-edge communicative technologies. Requiring a Mac computer, the 120-credit degree spans the spectrum from journalism to public relations with internships like Denver Hispanic Broadcasting, The Daily Sentinel, and the Denver Broncos. Students also participate in Media Day, access video equipment in The Cage, run KMSA-FM 91.3, and join the PRSSA.
Accreditation
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Escalante Hall 113
1100 North Avenue
Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970) 248-1119
blaga@coloradomesa.edu
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
College of Liberal Arts
Noted for prominent alumni like Cory Gardner, Yusef Homunyakaa, and Becky Hammon, Colorado State University-Fort Collins spends $375.9 million annually on R&D as a public, land-grant RU/VH institution of the Mountain West with 33,198 Rams engaged on its 586 acres near Horsetooth Mountain. Placed 271st globally by the Center for World University Rankings, CSU is ranked America’s 71st best college for social mobility in Washington Monthly. The College of Liberal Arts has the country’s 147th best communications degrees according to Niche with 86 percent freshman retention.
B.A. in Communication Studies
Led by Chair Greg Dickinson, CSU’s B.A. in Communication Studies offers Fort Collins undergrads one of the bachelor’s in communications programs in Colorado with specializations for Media and Visual Culture, Rhetoric and Civic Engagement, or Relational and Organizational Studies. The 42-credit, upper-division major synthesizes the foundational concepts of human communication with an optional TEAC-accredited Speech Teacher Licensure track. Students can benefit from editing College Avenue Magazine, producing award-winning CTV shows, interning with Southwest Airlines, and attending the Annual ACT Human Rights Film Festival.
Accreditation
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Behavioral Sciences A203
1783 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523
(970) 491-6140
Greg.Dickinson@colostate.edu
Colorado State University-Global
Communication Area of Study
Administered by Chancellor Michael V. Martin, Colorado State University-Global has held HLC accreditation since 2011 to educate 12,000 Golden Eagles primarily on Blackboard as a competency-based, not-for-profit distance educator in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Metro. Placed 46th nationally by OnlineDegreeReviews.org, CSU-Global is applauded by the U.S. News for America’s 15th best baccalaureate degrees online. Offering corporate discounts to employees of 500+ affiliates like MedStar Health, NBC Universal, Pacific Gas & Electric, and Delta Airlines, CSU-Global also has one of the online bachelor’s in communications programs in Colorado with “Military Friendly” status.
Online Bachelor of Science in Communication
Priced at $350 per credit, the Online Bachelor of Science in Communication from CSU-Global helps returning adults with 30+ transfer credits finish their degree flexibly with the writing, speech clarity, active listening, and negotiation skills to join mass media organizations. Within the 120-credit framework, the 12-course major offers 20 specializations, such as Information Technology, Marketing, Public Relations Studies, and Data Management. Online courses have monthly term starts and speedy eight-week schedules for asynchronous study with just one communications practicum component.
Accreditation
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
7800 East Orchard Road, Suite 200
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
(800) 920-6723
Jon.Bellum@csuglobal.edu
Colorado State University-Pueblo
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Occupying 279 acres off Highway 47 in Forbes’ 93rd best small city for business, Colorado State University-Pueblo is a public, Hispanic-serving teaching institution led by Chancellor Tony Frank with 4,762 undergrad Thunderwolves. Deemed the 183rd best Western value in Washington Monthly, CSU-Pueblo is ranked America’s 246th most conservative college on Niche. Boasting a 5.4 percent enrollment increase in 2016, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences houses 11 majors, including one of the bachelor’s in communications programs in Colorado, that currently cost $4,759 in-state and $12,050 out-of-state per term.
Mass Communications Major
Located in the Center for New Media, CSU-Pueblo’s Mass Communications Major offers a B.A. that trains humanities undergrads to convey complex ideas with clarity through courses like advertising, scriptwriting, and website design. The 30-credit major has three emphasis areas for Electronic Media, Integrated Communication, or Journalism with America’s oldest communications internship program started in 1963. Students can also record programming for Rocky Mountain PBS, talk sports on KTSC-FM/Rev 89, print news in TODAY, work with the The Pueblo Chieftain, and study in Augsburg.
Accreditation
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
2200 Bonforte Blvd.
Pueblo, CO 81001
(719) 549-2010
mccnm@csupueblo.edu
Metropolitan State University of Denver
College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Sitting atop a 126-acre campus conveniently near the Colfax At Auraria station in Forbes’ #1 best city for business, Metropolitan State University of Denver is a public, urban-grant higher learning institution given university status in 2012 by Governor Hickenlooper to serve 23,948 undergrad Roadrunners. Ranked the seventh most financially effective school by the Online College Database, MSU is named America’s 277th best college for art on Niche. The College of Letters, Arts and Sciences admits communications majors with a 65 percent acceptance rate for $3,464 in-state or $10,047 out-of-state per semester.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies
Reporting a median starting salary of $38,600, MSU’s Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies offers learner-centered courses for undergrads to become proficient speakers, writers, and negotiators for various public- or private-sector jobs. Starting with public speaking, the 42-credit major offers emphases for Broadcasting, Organizational Communication, Rhetoric and Ethics, or Strategic Relationship Maintenance. Students may also benefit from hitting the airwaves with KMet Radio, competing in Spectacular Vernacular, interning with ABC Network, and pledging Lambda Pi Eta.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design
Accredited by the NASAD, the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design suits MSU students seeking to craft effective visual messages to express organizational objectives in advertising. With studio practice in the Center for Visual Art (CVA), the 78-credit, portfolio-based major integrates courses like typography, website design, creative computation, and art theory before a senior exhibition. Undergrads may also join the AIGA Chapter, attend Art Guild events, participate in Art Shadow Day, and network with visiting artists, such as Golnar Adili and Joanne Pillsbury.
Bachelor of Science in Technical Communication
Another of the MSU bachelor’s in communications programs in Colorado is the Bachelor of Science in Technical Communication, which is directed by Dr. Chris Jennings to produce graduates who can present scientific information in suitable media formats. The 42-credit major offers concentrations for Interactive Media Production, Mobile and Social Media, Technical Writing and Editing, or Video Production with a mandatory minor. For 150+ clock hours, the Applied Learning Center arranges internships with organizations like Colorado Public Radio, Crawford Broadcasting, and Denver Post Media.
Accreditation
• National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Central Classroom 315
P.O. Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217
(303) 556-3058
askmetro@msudenver.edu
Regis University
College of Contemporary Liberal Studies
Known for alums like Campbell Brown, Joseph Montoya, and Jillian Balow, Regis University is a nonprofit, Jesuit ACJU member opened in 1877 on a 90-acre North Denver campus that’s now endowed for $56 million to enlighten 11,411 Rangers. Crowned the West’s 23rd best pick by the U.S. News, Regis is ranked the 198th best national university for community engagement in Washington Monthly. Granted the Peter F. Drucker Foundation Award for Innovative Programs, the College of Contemporary Liberal Studies is directed by Elisa Robyn, PhD, as America’s 353rd best school for communications according to Niche.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Featuring a 14:1 student-professor ratio, the Bachelor of Arts in Communication is one of the most affordable private bachelor’s in communications programs in Colorado charging $400 per credit to instill the interdisciplinary skills for shaping everyday narratives. The 55-credit major offers three emphases in Public Relations and Civic Engagement, Media and Society, or Human Communication with a senior capstone. Students can also broadcast on KRCX Radio, publish in The Highlander, get inspired in the O’Sullivan Art Gallery, and find resources in the Dayton Memorial Library.
Accreditation
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
3333 Regis Blvd.
Mail Stop P-28
Denver, CO 80221
(800) 944-7667
ruadmissions@regis.edu
University of Colorado-Boulder
College of Media, Communication and Information
Budgeting $1.5 billion annually, the University of Colorado-Boulder is a public, space-grant RU/VH powerhouse of the Pac-12 that’s run by President Bruce D. Benson with 1,075 staff and 32,201 Buffaloes on a 786-acre campus along the 40th parallel. Placed 116th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, CU-Boulder is ranked the United States’ 47th best public value on Kiplinger’s with average graduate debt at $25,605. The College of Media, Communication and Information was also positioned 34th nationally by QS Shanghai for its bachelor’s in communications programs in Colorado and 92 percent placement rate.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Offering the CommRAP living-learning community in Buckingham, Boulder’s Bachelor of Arts in Communication is a 36-credit, liberal arts-based major that fosters the practical skills and cultural awareness needed to speak professionally in diverse workplaces. Chaired by Tim Kuhn, PhD, the program includes a senior internship at CMCI partners like National Geographic and Starz Entertainment. Majors may also graduate with Honors, join the Eta Phi Honor Society, minor in Spanish & Portuguese, attend the Josephine B. Jones Lecture Series, and report with CU News Corps.
Accreditation
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Hellems Hall 80
2055 Regent Dr.
Boulder, CO 80309
(303) 492-7306
tim.kuhn@colorado.edu
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences
Home to Writers’ Forum, the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs is a public, master’s-level regional branch that’s sharing a $1.5 billion endowment to educate 12,753 Lions from 520 acres in the Cragmor neighborhood of “Olympic City USA.” Given STARS Gold Rating as the Sierra Club’s 63rd coolest school, UCCS is ranked the 205th top public university nationally by Forbes. Offering dual degrees with Ching Yun University, the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences is graded “B” for academics as America’s 477th best school for communications on Niche with a high admission rate of 92 percent.
B.A. in Communication
Coordinated by David R. Nelson, MFA, the B.A. in Communication has an average net price of $13,722 for students with a minimum “C” average to gather fundamental skills for writing stories, using digital media, improving body language, and more. Like some bachelor’s in communications programs in Colorado, the 36-credit major has tracks for Media Studies, Digital Filmmaking & Media Arts, Organizational & Strategic Communication, or Leadership Communication. Students may also join the Intergenerational Radio Storytelling Project, intern with The Westwide Pioneer, and declare Honors.
Accreditation
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Academic Office Building 516
1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy.
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
(719) 255-4129
dnelson2@uccs.edu
University of Colorado-Denver
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Led by Chancellor Dorothy Horrell, the University of Colorado-Denver operates on a $1.8 billion annual budget with over 18,000 Lynx enrolled as a public, land-grant RU/VH institution and teaching hospital with 352 acres in “Mile-High City’s” Auraria neighborhood. Named the 62nd best for vets school in Military Times, CU-Denver is ranked the 266th best U.S. college by Times Higher Education. Keeping 67 percent of alumni in Colorado, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was placed in the United States’ top 15 percent for communications courses on College Factual.
Communication Major
Delivered with an optional Certificate in Mediation, CU-Denver’s Communication Major bills $7,536 for Coloradoans and $23,232 non-residents to grant a B.A. that studies the nature of messages in relation to successful human relationships. Requiring an Admission Index score above 93, the 13-course major spans courses from health communication to writing practicum for generalist skills. Undergrads could also study at International College Beijing, receive the CLAS Award, join the Communication Students Club, practice in the Media Learning Lab, and intern with FOX Sports.
Online B.A. in Communication
Taught by the same PhD-level faculty trained at Richmond, Albuquerque, San Jose State, Iowa, and others, the Online B.A. in Communication is one of the sought-after bachelor’s in communications programs in Colorado for busy working adults to choose from 450+ distance courses on Canvas. Accepting up to 90 credit transfers, the 120-credit degree opens jobs like social media manager, human relations specialist, and digital marketing director for a median mid-career salary of $116,000. CU-Denver keeps online learning active with social justice projects, independent research, and internships.
Accreditation
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
1201 Larimer St.
3rd Floor, Suite 3014
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 315-1919
michelle.medal@ucdenver.edu
University of Denver
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Famous for media alumni like Bob Berkowitz, Andrew Rosenthal, and Marion Edwards, the University of Denver is a private, nonsectarian IAMSCU member using its $607 million endowment to serve 11,614 Pioneers in the Rockies. Ranked in America’s top 100 by The Financial Times, DU is crowned the 111th best private university and 65th best research institute by Forbes. The College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences has served as a pioneer for bachelor’s in communications programs in Colorado since 1912 with PhD-level professors from Arizona State, Northwestern, Kansas, UT-Austin, and more.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies
Chaired by Dr. Christina Foust, the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies is presently priced at $47,520 before financial aid as one of the leading Colorado communications programs that speaks to essential human interaction skills. The 40-credit major offers customizable emphases like Communication and Culture, Family and Relational Communication, Organizational Communication, or Rhetoric and Communication Ethics. DU undergrads could also join the Debate Team, attend the Cherrington Global Scholars Study Abroad program, intern with CNN, and write for The Clarion.
Accreditation
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Sturm Hall 200
2000 E. Asbury Ave.
Denver, CO 80208
(303) 871-2385
ugcomn@du.edu
University of Northern Colorado
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Based on a 260-acre campus in Greeley with the Michener Library named for the Pulitzer Prize-winning alum, the University of Northern Colorado is a public, multi-site HLC-accredited institution serving 12,084 Bears in the Big Sky Conference. Declared the 13th best value in Colorado with a 20-year net ROI of $210,000 on PayScale, UNC is ranked America’s 261st best master’s university for the public good in Washington Monthly. Offering 17 majors with average retention at 68 percent, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences also lands in the top 15 percent countrywide for communications degrees on College Factual.
Communication Studies B.A.
Currently charging $6,606 in-state and $17,652 out-of-state yearly, UNC’s Communication Studies B.A. is another of the traditional bachelor’s in communications programs in Colorado that explores message exchange across settings and cultures for future media specialists. Directed by Thomas G. Endres, PhD, the 120-credit degree marries courses like family communication and professional speaking with the capstone “40 Hour Project.” Students may also travel abroad to Barcelona, volunteer with the Boys & Girls Club, declare HSS Honors, join Lambda Pi Eta, and intern with The Greeley Tribune.
Accreditation
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Candelaria Hall 1265
501 20th St., Box 99
Greeley, CO 80639
(970) 351-2045
Sheri.Manweiler@unco.edu
Western State Colorado University
Undergraduate Division
Renowned for being a setting in Angela Corbett’s Emblem of Eternity trilogy, Western State Colorado University is a public, co-educational liberal arts hub founded in 1901 that’s led by President Greg Salsbury to educate 2,419 Mountainteers from 350 rural acres in Gunnison County. Saluted as America’s 168th best liberal arts college on Niche, WSCU is ranked the 92nd best Western college and 36th top public university by the U.S. News. Housing the last of bachelor’s in communications programs in Colorado, the Undergraduate Division has a 16:1 teaching ratio and 42 percent four-year graduation rate.
Communication Arts Major
Western’s Communication Arts Major bestows a B.A. for $6,624 in-state and $18,096 out-of-state annually to support students’ mass media career goals with the message-making skills for artistic and functional expression. Coordinated by Dr. Kelsey L. Bennett, the 12-course major offers emphases for General Communication, Film Studies, Strategic Communication and Marketing, or Theatre and Performance Studies. Valuable opportunities include working on KWSB Radio, producing for Mountainteer Media, interning with the Crested Butte Center, and earning the Jess Gern Scholarship.
Accreditation
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Taylor Hall 216
600 North Adams St.
Gunnison, CO 81231
(970) 943-2025
kbennett@western.edu
Communications is one of the oldest, most versatile majors that’s awarded to 90,650 U.S. college graduates annually according to the NCES. Studying how we speak could lend well to several of Business Insider’s fastest-growing jobs, including marketing specialist, event planner, health educator, and foreign language interpreter. Midwesterners picking from the 17 bachelor’s in communications programs in Colorado can rely on high-quality career prep.
See also: Top 20 Best Online Communications Degree Programs