Your degree should improve your options without swallowing the raise you hope to earn. For an online communications bachelor’s degree, ROI is strongest when you enter with a target role, transfer useful credit, and leave with work samples. Review online communications bachelor’s programs while comparing cost, curriculum, and the jobs each program supports.
Key Takeaways
- A broad degree pays off best when its courses and projects match a specific career goal.
- Total program cost matters more than a school’s advertised tuition rate.
- A portfolio can turn classroom work into proof that employers can assess.
The degree can support careers in public relations, research, marketing, media, and technical writing. It does not guarantee entry into those jobs. Experience, industry knowledge, software skills, location, and the quality of your work still affect hiring and pay.
The soundest decision compares the full education bill with realistic roles—not the highest salary attached to the major.
What Drives Online Communications Bachelor’s Degree ROI
Begin with total cost, including mandatory fees. GetEducated’s affordability ranking lists American Public University System’s Bachelor of Arts in Communication / Digital Communication & Media Design at a total program cost of $36,900 (In-State/Out-of-State) / $30,100 (Military).
Cost alone cannot establish the return. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that communications degree holders had a median wage of $68,000 in 2024, while 55% worked in occupations that required at least a bachelor’s degree. The figures show useful earning potential, but they also warn against assuming that every graduate enters a degree-level communications job.
- Strong case: You need a bachelor’s degree to compete for a named role or advance with your current employer.
- Weaker case: You are borrowing heavily without knowing which job the degree should help you pursue.
- Better comparison: Check total program cost, accepted transfer credit, relevant courses, and portfolio assignments together.
GetEducated's Picks
- Arizona State University Bachelor of Arts in Business - Communication
- Liberty University Bachelor of Science in Business Administration & Data Analysis - Communications
- Southern New Hampshire University Bachelor of Arts in Communication
A lower bill gives you more room for the degree to pay off, but a cheap program can still be a poor buy if its curriculum does not fit your goal. Compare required courses with actual job duties. A public relations candidate needs different evidence of skill than someone moving toward market research or technical writing.
Which Careers Offer the Strongest Payoff?
The best salary comparison uses jobs you could reasonably pursue, not every occupation held by someone with the same major. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the following entry requirements, pay figures, and employment outlooks for three relevant roles.
| Career | Typical Entry Education | Median Pay | Employment Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public relations specialist | Bachelor’s degree in communications or a related field | $74,750 in 2025 | 2% projected growth and about 23,000 openings annually from 2025–35 |
| Market research analyst | Bachelor’s degree in communications, business, or social science | $78,760 in 2025 | 7% projected growth and about 82,000 openings annually from 2025–35 |
| Technical writer | Bachelor’s degree | $90,390 in 2025 | About 3,200 openings annually from 2025–35 |
The technical writing benchmark is the highest of the three, but that does not make it the automatic best return. A candidate must still show that they can explain complex information. Market research may fit someone who can pair writing with data analysis, while public relations rewards message planning and audience awareness.
Program labels can help narrow the field. Digital media and communications career paths may fit applicants interested in newer media roles, while a strategic communication program may map more directly to public relations and campaign work.
How Portfolios and Digital Skills Change the Return
A diploma clears an education requirement; work samples help an employer judge what you can do. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that programs preparing public relations specialists may produce a portfolio for employers. Useful samples can include a press release, communication plan, research brief, presentation, social campaign, or edited web article.
Program titles offer clues about the work you may produce. Southern New Hampshire University offers the Bachelor of Arts in Communication / New Media, while Eastern Oregon University offers the Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science in Communication & Media Studies / Public Relations. Read the course list and assignment descriptions before assuming that a concentration name guarantees a strong portfolio.
Software skills also affect how quickly classroom work can become job evidence. The Labor Department’s O*NET database found that 2025 U.S. job postings for public relations specialists mentioned Microsoft Office in 20%, PowerPoint in 17%, Excel in 16%, Canva in 10%, and Adobe Creative Cloud in 8%. Those figures favor programs that pair writing and strategy with tools used in real work.
- Save polished assignments rather than submitting them once and forgetting them.
- Include short notes explaining the audience, goal, research, and result for each sample.
- Build at least one project around the industry where you want to work.
- Check digital media communications careers for role ideas that can guide project choices.
A portfolio will not erase a lack of experience, but it gives interviews something concrete to address. If two programs have similar costs, favor the curriculum that produces stronger, more relevant work over one built mainly around broad survey courses.
When the Degree Is Worth the Investment
The degree makes the strongest financial case when it removes a clear career barrier. The Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies marketing managers among the leading occupations for communications degree holders. The occupation typically requires a bachelor’s degree and has projected employment growth of 7% from 2025–35, though management jobs also depend on related work experience.
That distinction matters for working adults. A bachelor’s degree may help an experienced employee qualify for advancement, but a new graduate should not treat a management title as an entry-level outcome. Your first move may be into public relations, research, content, media, or communication support before management becomes realistic.
- Enroll now if the degree is required for a role you understand and the payment plan fits your budget.
- Compare more closely if you need a concentration that connects with your existing industry.
- Wait if you cannot yet name a target role, likely work samples, or an affordable route to completion.
Find Your Online Business Degree
Narrow 170 accredited online Business degree programs to find the perfect fit.
American Public University System
Bachelor of Arts in Communication / Digital Communication & Media Design
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Bachelor of Arts in Communication - Organizational & Strategic Communication
Texas State University
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies - Persuasion, Advocacy, and Civic Engagement
Walden University
Bachelor of Science in Communication - Organizational Society, Branding & Global Citizenship
Texas State University
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies - Professional & Organizational Advancement
Arkansas State University
Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication / Social Media Management Certificate
Walden University
Bachelor of Science in Communication - Possibilities, Problems & the Human Condition
Texas State University
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies - Relationship Management & Well-Being
Specialization can tighten the link between school and work. Liberty University’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration & Data Analysis - Communications combines communication with business and data analysis in its title. Its Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication - Social Media Management points toward a different skill set. Browse communications degree options and check whether each curriculum supports the work you want to perform.
A practical return comes from alignment: manageable cost, a degree requirement you actually need, relevant projects, and a credible route into the target job. If one of those pieces is missing, more research is cheaper than a poor enrollment decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an online communications Bachelor’s degree worth it?
It can be worth the cost when you need a bachelor’s degree for a target role and can finish without taking on unmanageable debt. The value weakens when the career goal remains vague.
What jobs can I get with a communications degree?
Relevant options include public relations specialist, market research analyst, technical writer, communication specialist, content worker, and media roles. Job fit depends on your courses, experience, portfolio, and industry knowledge.
Which communications career pays the most?
Technical writing has the highest median pay among the roles compared above. Do not select it by salary alone; assess whether you can explain detailed or complex subjects clearly.
Can the degree help me move into public relations?
Yes. Public relations specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree in communications or a related field. A portfolio of campaigns, releases, and audience research can strengthen the connection between the degree and the job.
How should I calculate the Degree’s return?
Compare total program cost, including mandatory fees, with the likely change in your earnings and job access. Base the estimate on a realistic first role rather than a later management position.
Does a concentration improve career value?
It may improve the fit if its required courses and projects match your goal. The concentration name alone is not enough; inspect the curriculum and the work you will produce.
Do I need a portfolio before graduation?
You should begin building one during the program. Save your strongest projects and revise them for the employers, industries, and roles you plan to approach.
When should I delay enrolling?
Delay the decision if you cannot identify a target job, explain why it requires the degree, or cover the full cost. Clarifying those points first can prevent an expensive mismatch.