Master’s in Communication in Ohio

Ohio offers aspiring communications experts a wide range of graduate degree options, including 6 schools offering traditional on-campus master's in communication programs and 4 schools offering fully online programs. Students in the Buckeye State can also choose from a variety of program concentrations, such as organizational communication, public relations, health communication, communication technology, media studies, and many others. Upon graduation, students will be well prepared for doctoral study, academic careers teaching communication at the college level or even to begin or advance their careers in the communication field. Major companies that call Ohio home and may provide employment opportunities for master's program graduates include Bridgestone, Goodyear, Big Lots!, KeyBank, Proctor & Gamble, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Ohio Health and Cleveland Clinic. For aspiring journalists and corporate communicators, there are a number of newspapers, radio stations, and television stations across the state, including those in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, and Toledo that may hire program graduates, as well as public relations, marketing, and communications companies in those same cities.

See below for additional information about each of the master's in communications programs offered in Ohio.

CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY

Cleveland State University offers a Masters in Communication Disorders program in an on-campus format.

What to Know: The Master of Science in Communication Disorders program. The Communication Sciences and Disorders Program at Cleveland State University is situated within the College of Health. The program includes a Master’s level Speech-Language Pathology degree program and a pre-professional undergraduate degree program.

What Does It Cost?: Graduate level tuition for the 2018-2019 academic year is $4,909 per semester for Ohio residents based on a course load of 9 credits per semester, and $9,261 per semester for non-residents.

Anything Else?: Students may enter the program in the fall or spring semesters.

KENT STATE UNIVERSITY

Kent State University offers a Master of Arts in Communication Studies program as an on campus program.

What to Know: The Master of Arts in Communication Studies focuses on the social and behavioral study of communication theory and research designed to prepare students for doctoral study as well as for professional careers. Students have the option to specialize in global, health, interpersonal or mediated/mass communication.

What Does It Cost?: Graduate level tuition for the 2018-2019 academic year is $11,536 per year for Ohio residents, and $21,524 per year for non-residents.

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Ohio State University offers a Master of Arts in Communication program on their campus in Columbus.

What to Know: The Master of Arts in Communication program is designed for students who plan to enter a doctoral program, begin a research career in the communication field, or whose eventual goals include teaching at the college or university level. The emphases of the program are research methodologies and the skills needed to advance the communication field.

What Does It Cost?: Graduate level tuition for the 2018-2019 academic year is $6,212 per semester for Ohio residents based on a course load of 8 or more credits per semester, and $17,464 per semester for non-residents. The school offers funding packages to nearly all students accepted to the master's in communication program.

Anything Else?: Students begin the program in the fall semester only, and application materials should be submitted no later than December 1 for full consideration for funding opportunities.

UNIVERSITY OF AKRON

The University of Akron offers a Master of Arts in Communication program in an on-campus format.

What to Know: The Master of Arts in Communication program is a 36-credit hour program that culminates in either a comprehensive exam for students planning to enter a professional career following graduation, or a thesis for students planning to enter doctoral study. The program offers three areas of concentration: Communication Studies, Media Studies, and Public Relations.

What Does It Cost?: Graduate level tuition for the 2018-2019 academic year is $442 per credit hour for Ohio residents and $747 per credit hour for non-residents. Additional mandatory fees apply.

Anything Else?: The program begins in the fall semester. For students seeking a graduate assistantship, the application deadline is March 1. For admission only, the application deadline is May 1.

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

The University of Cincinnati offers a Master of Arts in Communication program with full-time and part-time on campus options.

What to Know: The Master of Arts in Communication program allows students to earn their degree on a full-time or part-time (evening courses) basis to accommodate working students. The program offers the following options for specializations: Organizational Communication and Public Relations, Media and Cultural Studies, Health and Environmental Communication, Interpersonal Communication and Leadership, Culture and Globalization, and Rhetorical, Interpretive, Critical and Quantitative Methods. The program culminates in a thesis for students interested in Ph.D. programs, or a "Praxis" project, which consists of an advanced internship and a final paper.

What Does It Cost?: Graduate level tuition for the 2018-2019 academic year is $724 per credit hour for Ohio residents and $1,311 per credit hour for non-residents. Additional mandatory fees apply.

Anything Else?: Full-time students are accepted for the fall semester only, and the application deadline is February 1. The application deadlines for part-time students are February 1 for the fall semester and October 15 for the spring semester.

UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON

The University of Dayton offers a Master of Arts in Communication program in an on campus format.

What to Know: The Master of Arts in Communication program is a 36-credit hour program that focuses on research, theory, message development and analysis. Students may also choose to complete an interdisciplinary course of study combining communication courses with disciplines such as English, business, psychology or political science.

What Does It Cost?: Graduate level tuition for the 2018-2019 academic year is $925 per credit hour.

Anything Else?: All application materials for students interested in teaching assistantships should be submitted by March 9.

Online Master’s in Communication Programs in Ohio

ASHLAND UNIVERSITY

Ashland University offers a fully online Master of Arts in Corporate and Strategic Communication.

What to Know: The Master of Arts in Corporate and Strategic Communication program is an 18-month, 30-credit hour program with a strong focus on health and safety, public relations and strategic communication. Students choose from either a health or public relations track for their coursework.

What Does It Cost?: The cost of tuition and fees for the 2018-2019 academic year is $584 per credit hour.

Anything Else?: Applications for the program are reviewed on a rolling basis. It is suggested that all application materials are received by the school no later than one month before the intended start date.

BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY

Bowling Green State University offers a fully online Master of Arts in Media and Communications program with a specialization in Strategic Communication.

What to Know: The online Master of Arts in Media and Communications program is designed for media and communications professionals working in non-profit organizations, for-profit companies and the media. Students enroll part-time and complete their degrees in two years, with coursework in organizational communication, social media, advertising and public relations.

What Does It Cost?: The University estimates total tuition for the program at $18,000-$20,000 total as of fall 2018.

Anything Else?: The program offers 7-week online courses and 6 program start dates throughout the year.

FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY

Franklin University in Columbus offers an online Master of Science in Marketing and Communication program.

What to Know: The online Master of Science in Marketing and Communication program is a fully online program designed to be completed in 16 months and does not require the GRE or GMAT to apply. The integrated curriculum focuses on modern-day marketing and communication tactics and trends.

What Does It Cost?: Tuition for this program for the 2018-2019 academic year is $670 per credit hour.

Anything Else?: The application deadline for admission in the fall semester is August 20, and January 7 for the spring semester.

OHIO UNIVERSITY

Ohio University in Athens offers a Master of Arts in Organizational Communication in a fully online format.

What to Know: The online Master of Arts in Organizational Communication program is designed for working professionals to complete on their own schedules in 15 months (assuming two courses per semester) or two years (completing one course per semester). Students complete their coursework in organizational communication via online class discussions and group projects and video conferences with instructors, which allows them to earn their degree from the comfort of home at times that work with their work schedules.

What Does It Cost?: Tuition for online programs is $240 per credit hour as of fall 2018.

Anything Else?: The application deadline for admission in the fall semester is July 1, November 1 for the spring and April 1 for the summer semester.

Ohio Colleges That Offer Accredited Master's in Communications Programs