Master of Arts in Communication

Master of Arts (M.A.) in Communication

Finish in as little as 12 months! Full- and half-tuition fellowships available.

Our master’s degree in communication nurtures the digital and strategic communication skills that will make you an asset in a variety of organizations, from large for-profit media companies to mission-driven non-profits.

Cost

Career Outlook

Curriculum

Faculty

Fellowships, Scholarships & Aid

Application Information

Communication Master's Degree at a Glance

Mode of Study

On Campus, Hybrid

Est. Time

12 Months Full-time (Part-time Study Available)

Start Terms

Fall, Spring, Summer I,
Summer II
View Application Deadlines

Credits

Evening Classes

Available

Accreditation

NECHE

Fellowships

Full-tuition &
Half-tuition

Scholarships

Dean Scholarship &
Alumni Scholarship

Tell Me More About Merrimack's Communication Master's Degree

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Graduate students on campus at Merrimack College August 2024

Graduate Info Session & Tour

Sunday, March 23, 2025

from 10:30 am

to 12:00 pm

Explore the Merrimack College community, gain tips on what makes a strong application, hear about our fellowship opportunities, take a tour and more!

Master of Arts in Communication Tuition

Published Tuition

$1,100 per credit (32 credits). Tuition for 2024-2025. Rates are subject to change.

Average Aid Amount

Scholarships and fellowships significantly reduce the tuition for most of our students.

Average Tuition Cost

After scholarships and fellowships.

Typical Tuition Costs for the M.A. in Communication

Merrimack College offers generous scholarship and fellowship opportunities to offset your graduate tuition.

Presidential Fellowships are 9-month, 25 hour-per-week field placements and cover 100% of tuition ($35,200).

100%

Provost Fellowships are 9-month, 15 hour-per-week field placements and cover 50% of tuition ($17,600).

50%

Double Warrior Alumni Scholarships are awarded to all Merrimack College alumni, covering 33% of tuition ($11,616), for recent graduates (25% for previously graduated alumni).

33%

Dean Scholarships are merit based aid awarded to all students, ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 and average $8,800, or 25% of tuition.

25%

Visit the page below to find all up-to-date tuition and fees information.

Overview of Merrimack's M.A. in Communication

Merrimack’s M.A. in Communication offers a comprehensive curriculum that emphasizes strategic communication, digital media, and industry-specific skills.

Students in this program gain a deep understanding of media production, content creation, and communication strategy, with hands-on experience in campaign design, public relations, and crisis communication. You are encouraged to choose from six industry-focused concentrations, each pathway designed to equip students with specialized skills needed to excel in diverse, high-demand roles across media, corporate communication, and nonprofit sectors.

Choose one of Six Concentrations

Business Analytics

Communication Leadership

Digital Media and Content Creation

Integrated Marketing Communication

Management

Strategic Communication

Why Choose the M.A. in Communication at Merrimack?

PRACTICAL SKILLS

Our communication master’s program provides you with the skills to work in professional communications, from digital media content creation and campaign design to public relations and crisis communications, as well as related fields. Coursework emphasizes strategic communication and digital media.

CAREER OUTLOOK

Our master’s in communication degree prepares you to be a versatile, skilled and strategic communicator through a variety of platforms. Employers are looking for these skills. According to the 2019 Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs in public relations, marketing, and advertising is projected to grow faster than average in the next 10 years.

SUPPORTIVE FACULTY

Merrimack College’s MA in Communication features dedicated faculty and staff who are available to help you from the time you consider enrolling all the way through the finish line of graduation. Our faculty and staff include social media expert Kilhoe “Miranda” Na, emerging media scholar Melissa “Mish” Zimdars, health communication specialist Andrew Tollison, and professional fellowship advisor Samantha Bruno. We’re here to nurture your technical, creative, professional and strategic communication skills.

TRANSFORMATIVE FELLOWSHIPS

With a dozen fellowship opportunities on campus, you can receive full- or half-tuition discounts, boost your resume, build your portfolio and expand your networks all at once. These competitive awards provide supervised work experience that put communication principles into practice. Dean scholarships and alumni scholarships are also available offering a high-quality degree for excellent value.

Career Outlook: Where Can a M.A. in Communication Take You?

Average Annual Salary

for people with a Master of Arts in Communication in the United States.

Job Openings

annually for media and communication occupations.

0 %

Growth

in jobs for public relations and fundraising managers projected for 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations.

Sources: Payscale.com and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2024

Jobs with a Communication Master's Degree

Upon completing our program, you’ll be well-equipped to pursue a career in communication and related disciplines. Positions may include:

Director of Communications
Public Relations Manager
Marketing Manager
Editor
Social Media Manager
Content Strategy Lead
Project Manager
Video Producer

Where Merrimack's M.A. in Communication Graduates Work

Boston Bruins

Communications & PR Assistant

WACH FOX 57

Weekend Anchor/Reporter

Mabbett & Associates Inc.

Marketing & Proposal Development Coordinator

Harvard Medical School

Events Coordinator

What Our M.A. in Communication Students and Alumni Say

"The number of interviews I had received from various companies due to seeing that I had an M.A. in Communication was unbelievable. They commented on how impressive a degree like this is. It’s a very unique thing to have and I’ve discovered that companies take note of that.”

Samantha Puleo '21, M'22Current Job: Marketing & Proposal Development Coordinator,
Mabbett & Associates Inc.

Read Student Spotlight

“In so many aspects of life, we hear the phrase 'communication is key.' You can never go wrong with an advanced degree in this field because it can support and complement almost any past degree or current work. Plus, in this master’s program, you will get to learn from knowledgeable, creative and personable professors and alongside kind, eager and fun classmates.”

Amanda Alcox '19, M'24CURRENT JOB: Events Coordinator,
Harvard Medical School

Read Student Spotlight

“Getting my graduate degree at Merrimack has allowed me to prepare for the workload of a full-time job and it gave me extra experience through my fellowship to just get much more knowledge in the field I wanted to pursue.”

Connor Powell '21, M'22Current Job: Liaison Agent
Boston Police Department

Listen to Podcast

“Merrimack’s M.A. in Communication gave me the foundational background I needed to earn a job in the field I wanted.”

Claire Foley '20, M'22current job: Weekend Anchor/Reporter,
WACH FOX 57

Read Student Spotlight

What You'll Learn in Merrimack's M.A. in Communication

Explore Our Six Career-Focused Concentrations

Merrimack College’s M.A. in Communication program offers a range of concentrations to allow you to tailor your graduate education to your specific interests and career goals. While we encourage you to choose from these options to deepen your expertise in a particular area, selecting a concentration is not required. Available concentrations include: