Master’s in Communication in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania offers students several options for master's in communication programs, both in the urban centers of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, as well as elsewhere around the state. Students can choose from traditional on campus programs, online courses and hybrid formats that mix the two, as well as professional concentrations including corporate communications, public relations, science and health communication.

Major employers in Pennsylvania for communications experts include federal, state and local government entities, the state's many colleges and universities, hospitals, medical centers and other healthcare organizations, and professional communications firms located in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

See below for details about master's in communications programs available throughout Pennsylvania.

Drexel University

Drexel University in Philadelphia offers two traditional on campus master's-level communication programs, as well as an online Master of Science in Communication program.

What to Know: Drexel offers an on campus Master of Science in Communication program that offers three concentrations: public communication, technical communication and science communication. This degree is also available as an online program, and can be started in any quarter. Drexel University also offers a Master of Science in Communication, Culture & Media for academically oriented students who want to learn the basics of research and theory for careers in research or academia.

What Does It Cost?: The tuition rate for the College of Arts & Sciences (on campus and online) is $1,228 per credit.

Anything Else?: The Master of Science in Communication program (both online and classroom formats) are available as full-time or part-time schedules.

Duquesne University

Duquesne University in Pittsburgh offers three master's-level communication programs, two of which are delivered in traditional, hybrid and online formats.

What to Know: The Master of Arts in Communication is offered in traditional, hybrid and online formats and allows students to tailor their study to a number of focus areas within communication, including intercultural and interpersonal communication, persuasion, event planning, etc. The Master of Arts in Corporate Communication is also available in traditional, hybrid or online formats and prepares students for careers in non-profit or for-profit communications management positions. The Master of Arts in Rhetoric & Philosophy of Communication provides students with a traditional liberal arts education for leadership positions in academia, law and business.

What Does It Cost?: The tuition rate for all three programs is $958 per credit.

Edinboro University

Edinboro University in Edinboro offers a Master of Arts in Communication Studies program in a traditional on campus format.

What to Know: The 36-credit hour program allows students to take courses in one or more of the following program emphases: Managerial and Leadership Communication, Integrated Marketing Communication, Intercultural & International Communication and Public Communication.

What Does It Cost?: Graduate tuition and fees is $642.05 per credit hour for Pennsylvania residents, and $943.35 per credit hour for non-residents.

Anything Else?: Students also have the option of obtaining a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Management concurrently with their program of study.

Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University in University Park offers graduate program in Communication Arts and Sciences in a traditional classroom format.

What to Know: The graduate program in Communication Arts and Sciences trains students in communication science and rhetorical studies, with particular attention to political deliberation, health communication, interpersonal communication, public address, rhetorical theory and rhetoric of public culture.

What Does It Cost?: Graduate tuition and fees is $11,124 per year for Pennsylvania residents, and $18,562 per year for non-residents.

Anything Else?: Apart from one course in the first semester of study, there are no required courses for this program, meaning students can fully tailor their course of study to their individual interests and professional goals.

Point Park University

Point Park University in Pittsburgh offers three traditional Master of Arts in Communications programs

What to Know: The Master of Arts in Media Communication program is offered in an on campus format, and allows students to specialize in journalism, public relations and advertising or documentary. The Master of Arts in Media Communication program is also offered as a dual Master of Business Administration program that allows students to obtain both a Master of Arts in Media Communication and an MBA in as little as two years of full-time course work. The Master of Arts in Broadcasting, Sports Media, Documentary is offered in an on campus format, and offers students a background in multimedia, graphic design, social media, integrated marketing campaigns and search engine optimization.

What Does It Cost?: Graduate tuition for the on campus programs is $881 per credit, and $595 per credit for the online program.

Temple University

Temple University in Philadelphia offers an online Master of Science in Communication Management degree and a Master of Science in Globalization & Development Communication program in a traditional classroom format.

What to Know: The Master of Science in Globalization & Development Communication focuses on teaching students how to use digital and traditional communications to develop social change in areas such as food security, human rights, gender equality, peace and conflict, public health and sustainability. The Master of Science in Communication Management program is a 31-credit, professionally oriented program that focuses on a deep exploration of communication principles and practices, and features courses in audience analysis, emerging media, organizational communication and research and data synthesis.

What Does It Cost?: Yearly in-state tuition for Pennsylvania residents is $16,896 and yearly tuition for non-residents is $27,888.

Anything Else?: Both the Master of Science in Globalization & Development Communication program and the online Master of Science in Communication Management program are meant to be completed in as little as one year.

Villanova University

Villanova University in Villanova offers a Master of Arts in Communication program taught in a hybrid format, combining online and in person courses.

What to Know: The Master of Arts in Communication program is offered in a flexible schedule format, in which many courses are available either as online or in-person courses, or as a combination of the two.

What Does It Cost?: Graduate tuition is currently $770 per credit hour.

Anything Else?: The 33-credit hour program includes a required ten core and additional focal courses, as well as a preliminary examination and degree capstone prior to graduation.

West Chester University

West Chester University in West Chester offers a Master of Arts in Communication Studies program that is taught in an on campus format.

What to Know: The Master of Arts in Communication Studies program offers courses in interpersonal and public relationships, opinion-making, cultural awareness, mass communication, conflict resolution and more.

What Does It Cost?: Graduate tuition and fees for full-time graduate students taking nine credits per semester is $5,979 for Pennsylvania residents and $8,337 for non-residents taking nine credits per semester.

Pennsylvania Colleges That Offer Accredited Master's in Communications Programs