Wisconsin Communications Degrees

Click to see more online programs that are taking applications for 2024.

The state of Wisconsin has two institutions that have accredited programs in the field of communications by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC). They are both under the University of Wisconsin umbrella at the campus locations of Eau Claire and Oshkosh. Examples of disciplines that prospective students can study at these institutions include Public Relations, Multimedia Journalism, and Integrated Strategic Communication.

All of these programs provide a Bachelor's degree for eventual graduates, and there are no Master's degrees that have been designated by the ACEJMC in the state of Wisconsin. Having this accreditation means that the university has gone through the effort to self-evaluate programs based on the organization's strict guidelines in order to showcase their offering as one of the top programs to pursue in the field of communications.

Top Locations for Communications Schools and Job Opportunities in Wisconsin

Based on population, Milwaukee is the 31st largest city in the country with over 581,000 residents. They have over double the population of Madison, where the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin is based. Milwaukee has the 35th-highest television rankings in the country according to Nielsen.

They have broadcast affiliation with all major networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, etc.) and multiple radio stations that provide a variety of avenues for advertising to specialize their distribution. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel is a combination newspaper publication that releases daily after the morning and afternoon papers combined back in 1995. The current owner of the publication is Gannett.

Madison provides jobs within the broadcasting industry and public relations, especially when related to government relations and public affairs. An example of a top PR firm in the area is Pilch and Barnet, who specialize in creating dynamic marketing solutions for local organizations.

There are a wide variety of services available for clients, including branding improvement that helps create a unique identity, the creation of mobile apps to reel in a massive audience that is spending more time on smartphones, and graphic design that can help give a fresh look to an organization. Training programs give expertise to employees and improve morale through the company.

Click to for more online communications degrees that are taking applications for 2024.

Campus-based and online Communications programs in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Journalism and Communications Careers, Salaries, and Associations

Wisconsin has plenty of employment opportunities within communications, and this includes public relations, a field with approximately 4,000 workers. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, annual mean salaries are estimated at $63,800 across the state.

This figure jumps more toward the national average of $70,000 when looking at opportunities in the Milwaukee and Madison metropolitan areas. These locations account for at least half of the public relations sector. Madison has a rate of 3.11 PR specialists per 1,000 workers, the highest in the state.

Kalmbach Media is based in Waukesha, near Milwaukee, and is a publisher of hobbyist content through digital media and magazines. They routinely look for marketing coordinators, managers, and content editors. Marketing coordinators are tasked with the duties of working with clients to develop, optimize, and distribute advertising on various platforms.

Coordinators will analyze performance metrics and report this information to the client, making any changes that are necessary to gain an advantage in the market. They will need to manage multiple campaigns at the same time. At least a Bachelor’s degree is required along with at least a year of work experience in digital marketing and/or publishing.

Due to the high TV market value of Milwaukee, the BLS recognizes the state of Wisconsin with dozens of broadcast news analysts receiving an average salary of at least $91,000 across the state, which is right at the national average for this position. A broadcast news analyst accounts for the ability to gather information from credible sources and present transformative work or deliver opinions on these topics in a broadcast setting, either as a news anchor or commentator in television or radio form.