Looking for bachelor’s in communications programs in North Carolina? You’re in luck because the “Tar Heel State” has 11 SACS-accredited media degrees in just the A-G bracket.
North Carolina has a 29.4 percent college attainment rate for the 4.29 million workers in its thriving $499 billion economy. According to Forbes, North Carolina is the #1 business state with the #10 best job growth. Communications grads can build careers in five of America’s top 100 media markets: Charlotte, Raleigh, Asheville, Winston-Salem, and Greenville. Possible outlets include Southern Cultures, Curtis Media Group, WAXN-TV, The Brunswick Beacon, WRAL 101.5FM, Patch Media, and North Carolina News Network. The 26 Fortune 1000 companies like Hanes, Nucor, Sonic Automotive, and Duke Energy also need communications savants. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that the 42,060 media jobs statewide provide median pay of $53,330. Find your voice at the North Carolina undergrad communications programs below.
Ranking: Top 20 Best Online Communications Degree Programs
Appalachian State University
College of Fine and Applied Arts
Home to the LEED-certified George G. Beasley Media Complex since 2013, Appalachian State University is a public, coed Sun Belt teaching college worth $102.13 million that’s educating 19,108 Mountaineers at the 64-building High Country campus near Grandfather Mountain. ASU was deemed America’s 318th best higher education choice on Forbes, 111th best value in Kiplinger’s, and fifth top school for student satisfaction by MyPlan. Marking its 50th anniversary, the College of Fine and Applied Arts has produced 26,500 alumni in seven departments, including one of the bachelor’s in communications programs in North Carolina ranked 249th nationally on Niche.
Communication Studies (BS)
Attracting 130 majors with 87.2 percent retention, App State’s Communication Studies (BS) explores human interaction theories for several different contexts in Boone or online via ASULearn. The 122-credit bachelor’s directed by Dr. Jean DeHart currently costs $2,121 to $9,524 per term with three specializations for Electronic Media Broadcasting, Public Relations, and Journalism. Students might also travel to Armenia, engage in Socrates’ Café, intern at Everlast Worldwide, deejay on WASU 90.5FM, join Ad Club, and publish The PEL Literature Review.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Duncan Hall 220
730 Rivers Street
Boone, NC 28608
(828) 262-2402
dehart2jl@appstate.edu
Barton College
School of Visual, Performing, and Communication Arts
Funded by WRAL-TV in 2012 for the Phyllis Parish Howard Media Lab, Barton College is a nonprofit, four-year Christian school endowed for $28 million to enroll 960 Bulldogs from 17 nations into 40+ majors at its 65-acre Wilson campus off Interstate 95 with 72 full-time faculty. Barton was designated America’s 241st most selective institution by WalletHub, 159th safest college on Niche, and 100th best community service provider in Washington Monthly. The School of Visual, Performing, and Communication Arts lands 441st nationally on College Factual for two bachelor’s in communications programs in North Carolina currently charging $30,880 full-time annually.
Mass Communications Bachelor of Science
Requiring minimum 2.3 GPAs and 890 SAT scores, the Mass Communications Bachelor of Science admits Barton freshmen ready to run sound media campaigns that aptly share content to diverse viewers. The 52-credit major headed by Prof. Mark Gordon splits into four tracks on Audio Recording Technology, Journalism, Broadcasting, and Public Relations with three practicum semesters. Learners may intern at Wilson Daily Times, join the SPJ Chapter, mix music in Sara Lynn Riley Studio, utilize Hackney Library, minor in Spanish, and perform in Kennedy Theatre too.
Visual Communications Bachelor of Arts
Chaired by Prof. Susan Fencho, a 2017 Handcrafted Exhibition Award winner, Barton’s Visual Communications Bachelor of Arts has a 10:1 student-faculty ratio for actual practice producing creative imagery that speaks to chosen audiences. The 55-credit, portfolio-based major utilizes WEDT Studio for courses like Video Production, 2D Painting, Photography, and Graphic Design. Undergrads could also join the Art Students’ League, intern at Reynolda House, earn the Bessie Massengill Scholarship, print The Collegiate, and exchange to Prague’s Charles University.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Case Art Building 101
800 Vance Street NE
Wilson, NC 27893
(252) 399-6480
enroll@barton.edu
Campbell University
College of Arts & Sciences
Granted the 2013 NCCMA Best in Show Award for The Pine Burr Yearbook, Campbell University is a private, Baptist liberal arts school named after James Archibald Campbell that’s budgeting $246 million to serve 6,313 Camels at the 1,500-acre Sandhills campus near the Cape Fear. Campbell was chosen America’s 426th most diverse college on Niche, 414th top university by Times Higher Education, and 226th best buck in Washington Monthly. The College of Arts & Sciences has selective 73.5 percent admission into one of the bachelor’s in communications programs in North Carolina ranked 180th for PR nationally by College Factual.
Communication Studies Major
Presently priced $15,575 per semester, Campbell’s Communication Studies Major trains eloquent speakers to generate meaningful discussions and writings with at least 180 internship hours. The 124-credit degree overseen by Dr. Dean Farmer integrates seven options: Converged Journalism, Digital Media, Pre-Law, Generalist, Broadcasting, Interpersonal Communication, or Public Relations. Students may also consult with Wake Enterprises, pledge Lambda Pi Eta, join NCASC, edit The Lyricist, stream WCCE 90.1FM, add Negotiation Certificates, and semester in Salzburg.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Lundy-Fetterman Hall 257
165 Dr. McKoy Road
Buies Creek, NC 27506
(910) 893-1521
farmerd@campbell.edu
Catawba College
Ketner School of Business
Presenting the Blue Masque’s One Act Festival each April in Corriher Theatre, Catawba College is a nonprofit, coed Reformed Church CIC member started in 1851 that’s endowed for $55 million to teach 1,325 Indians from 36 states at its 276-acre Salisbury home near Charlotte. Catawba is crowned America’s 105th best performing arts school on Niche, 135th best campus experience by WalletHub, and 142nd top undergrad college in Washington Monthly. Also placed on Forbes’ Grateful Graduates Index Top 100, the Ketner School of Business stands out from bachelor’s in communications programs in North Carolina for ACBSP accreditation and 96 percent job placement.
B.A. Degree in Communication
Utilizing the Digital Media Lab’s 12 iMac desktops, the Catawba B.A. Degree in Communication introduces students to the cutting-edge technologies affecting how people stay in touch and share information. The 124-credit curriculum organized by Dr. Joshua Smicker bridges courses from Principles of Marketing to Technical Writing and Sports Communication for $30,520 per year. Other opportunities include producing The Pioneer, announcing on WSAT 1280AM, joining Delphinian Society, interning at CBS, becoming Alpha Orientation Leaders, and exploring Ireland.
Accreditation
• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Hedrick Building 217
2300 West Innes Street
Salisbury, NC 28144
(704) 637-4287
jsmicker12@catawba.edu
Chowan University
School of Fine and Applied Arts
Hosting the Paper Works Exhibit at its Wayland Jenkins Jr. Center since 2012, Chowan University is a private, four-year Baptist institute honoring the Algonquin Chowanook tribe that’s gifting $26.6 million to support 1,532 Hawks in 70+ majors at the 450-acre Squirrel Park campus. Chowan was noticed for America’s 356th best Greek life on Niche, 195th most value added by The Economist, and 281st top social mobility in Washington Monthly. Also ranked 294th nationally on College Factual, the School of Fine and Applied Arts reports a median $51,500 PayScale wage after another of the studio-centric bachelor’s in communications programs in North Carolina.
Graphic Communications BS
Dedicated to Romans 12:2, Chowan’s Graphic Communications BS welcomes creative majors into the 40,000-square-foot Krueger School to improve their mixed media skills crafting aesthetic imagery. The 128-credit program overseen by Prof. Tom Brennan mandates 2.5 GPAs in courses like Digital Publishing, Web Design, Color Reproduction, and Advanced Packaging costing $1,200 each. Students might also design Chowanoka Magazine, join VISION Club, attend Graphics Summer Camp, intern at Intrepid Marketing, tour Israel, and enter Honors College.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Green Hall 1st Floor
1 University Place
Murfreesboro, NC 27855
(252) 398-6207
brennt@chowan.edu
East Carolina University
College of Fine Arts and Communication
Chosen for the 47th Annual Meta M. Downes Speech-Language Symposium in 2017, East Carolina University is the third-largest public, doctoral UNC constituent and a HEED Diversity Award winner that’s generating $2.8 billion by training 23,265 Pirates in 84 majors with 1,386 Greenville acres. ECU was proclaimed America’s 53rd best party school on Niche, 194th top research institute in Forbes, and 423rd best value by Money with aan verage debt of $24,800. The College of Fine Arts and Communication was ranked 13th nationally on Affordable Colleges Online for one of the hybrid bachelor’s in communications programs in North Carolina that’s approved by the NC-SARA.
Communication BS
Coordinated by Dr. Mary Tucker-McLaughlin, the 2011 OSCLG Top Paper Award recipient, East Carolina’s Communication BS has a March 15th deadline for starting in-depth study of how societal connections form on diverse platforms. The 120-credit plan outlines concentrations for Journalism, Media Studies, Public Relations, and Interpersonal Communication with fixed semester tuition of $3,594 to $11,732. Majors may also join CommCrew, write for The Hook, broadcast on WZMB 91.3FM, receive the Michael Aho Scholarship, intern at MTV, and visit Japan.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Joyner East Building 102
1000 East 5th Street
Greenville, NC 27858
(252) 737-1559
tuckermclaughlinm@ecu.edu
Elizabeth City State University
Department of Language, Literature and Communication
Serving Hampton Roads with the 41,000-watt WRVS 89.9FM for 32 years, Elizabeth City State University is a public, historically Black TMCF member started by Peter Weddick Moore that’s enlightening 1,678 Vikings in 26 majors at the 200-acre “Harbor of Hospitality” campus. ECSU was lauded America’s 15th best college for African Americans in Essence, third best HBCU by the Green Building Initiative, and 149th best baccalaureate school in Washington Monthly. The Department of Language, Literature and Communication has NC Promise tuition of $1,000 to $5,000 yearly for one of the bachelor’s in communications programs in North Carolina ranked 383rd on College Factual.
BA in Communication Studies
Admitting an average 990 SAT score and 3.23 GPA, Elizabeth City’s BA in Communication Studies helps qualifying freshmen to launch innovative careers shaping the ways institutions relay information ethically. The 120-credit curriculum led by Dr. Amber Stamper was revised in Spring 2013 to include Art Appreciation, Journalism, Creative Writing, Human Resources, and more. Other opportunities are reviewing The Compass, tutoring in QEP Studio, joining Mass Media Club, broadcasting Viking Update, discovering Australia, and attending Shakespeare Fest.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Johnson Hall 154-A
1704 Weeksville Road
Elizabeth City, NC 27909
(252) 335-3588
amstamper@ecsu.edu
Elon University
School of Communications
Bestowed a 2016 College Television Emmy for ESTV’s “30 Minutes,” Elon University is private, coed college that’s endowed for $202.9 million with 433 full-time faculty teaching 6,991 Phoenix from 58 nations in 60+ majors at the 66-acre Piedmont campus featured in Spike Lee’s He Got Game. Elon was elected America’s 17th best college dorms on The Princeton Review, 178th best university by Times Higher Education, and 18th best value in Kiplinger’s. The School of Communications awards one of the ACEJMC-accredited bachelor’s in communications programs in North Carolina ranked 52nd nationally on Niche with 90 percent retention of 1,267.
Communications Major (A.B.)
Currently charging $35,319 annually, Elon’s Communications Major (A.B.) blends application-based courses of 10 to 33 pupils with Kanarick Media Sandbox practice to express thoughts on interactive technologies. The 132-credit degree directed by Dr. Rochelle Ford, a Fulbright Scholar, offers emphases for Journalism, Strategic Communication, Cinema/TV Arts, Communication Design, and Media Analytics. Students could intern at Vogue, study in Los Angeles, perform at Turner Theatre, run WSOE 89.3FM, join Cinelon Productions, and enter the Bateman Competition too.
Accreditation
• Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Schar Hall 108A
100 Campus Drive
Elon, NC 27244
(336) 278-5724
communications@elon.edu
Fayetteville State University
College of Arts and Sciences
Victorious at the 2015 UNC Social Entrepreneurship Conference, Fayetteville State University is a public, historically Black TMCF college dedicated to “Deeds Not Words” that budgets $112.8 million to train 6,226 Broncos at the 38-building Sandhills campus near Fort Bragg. FSU was judged America’s 57th best school by the Social Science Research Network, 158th top faculty on Niche, and 22nd best HBCU in the U.S. News & World Report. The College of Arts and Sciences has 200+ PhD-level faculty across 12 majors, including one of the bachelor’s in communications programs in North Carolina ranked 324th by College Factual, for 15:1 student-professor ratios.
Communications (BA)
Open for admission until June 30th or December 1st, Fayetteville’s Communications (BA) has 60.4 percent acceptance of students seeking top skills facilitating contact between organizations and the public. The 120-credit, eight-term program managed by Dr. Todd Frobish, the 2011 UNC Excellence in Teaching Award recipient, has daytime courses like Advertising, Video Appreciation, and Feature Writing. Majors could also stream Bronco iRadio, edit The Voice, utilize the Language Lab, explore China, volunteer with Umoja Group, and become McNair Scholars.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Lyons Science Annex 238
1200 Murchison Road
Fayetteville, NC 28301
(910) 672-1206
tfrobish@uncfsu.edu
Gardner-Webb University
College of Arts & Sciences
Stocking over 230,000 titles in its 45,000-square-foot John R. Dover Memorial Library, Gardner-Webb University is a private, Baptist liberal arts CIC member founded in 1905 that’s received $175 million to instruct 4,500 Bulldogs from 21 nations at the 225-acre Blue Ridge campus near the Broad River. GWU was picked America’s 196th best free application school on Niche, 312nd top Peace Corps producer in Washington Monthly, and 133rd best faculty by WalletHub. Also ranked 415th nationally on College Factual, the College of Arts & Sciences presently bills $15,610 per term for another of the bachelor’s in communications programs in North Carolina.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies
Reporting 92 percent job placement, GWU’s Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies gives 150+ students broad exposure to media theories and fosters visible enthusiasm for ethical reporting of facts. The 39-credit, Christ-centered major headed by Dr. Lisa Luedeman propels into iPad-required courses like Photojournalism, Graphic Design, Non-linear Editing, and Copywriting with 180 practicum hours. Learners could intern at Fox 46 Charlotte, edit Gardner-Webb Today, run WGWG 88.3FM, join Art Club, tour Italy, and attend the Joyce Compton Brown Series too.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Communication Studies Hall 121
110 South Main Street
Boiling Springs, NC 28017
(704) 406-2005
lluedeman@gardner-webb.edu
According to the U.S. News & World Report, 3.9 million undergrads dropped out in 2016 with a staggering average degree-less debt of $9,668. Therefore, it’s important to carefully search through all bachelor’s in communications programs in North Carolina to ensure you find the perfect four-year college match that lasts.
Continue here:
- Bachelor’s in Communications Programs in North Carolina (H-P)
- Bachelor’s in Communications Programs in North Carolina (Q-Z)