Quick Highlights
At Arkansas State University, the master’s in Strategic Communications is 30 credits, can be completed in as few as 10 months and runs 7-week courses in fall and spring and 5-week courses in summer. Total tuition is $10,500 with all fees included, the same in every state.
If you are thinking about enrolling in a master’s program while you work, two questions come first. Will this fit around my job, and what will it cost? Arkansas State University (A-State) offers an online Master of Science (M.S.) in Strategic Communication (General) that makes this math easy to work out. Your timeline depends on your course load and transfer credits. The sections below break down both.
The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) 2013 to 2023 report found that 39.9% of graduate students at responding institutions were part-time in Fall 2023. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that 40.5% of postbaccalaureate students took only distance education courses in fall 2024. Working while studying is common, and the pace options below let you scale the load up or down.
Can You Finish a Strategic Communications Master’s in a Year?
Yes, you can finish the 30-credit program in as few as 10 months. That works out to 10 accelerated courses of three credits each. Reaching that pace means taking more than one course in some terms.
Fall and spring courses last 7 weeks, while summer courses run 5. The fast path averages two courses per term. Because tuition is charged per credit, a slower pace costs the same as a faster pace.
How Long Does Each Course Load Take in an Online Strategic Communications Master’s?
This master’s takes as few as 10 months, or about 20 months at one course per term. Your course load determines when you finish. Each term takes about two months from one start date to the next.
| Course load | Terms for 10 courses | Approximate time | Who it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two courses per term | 5 | As few as 10 months | You can give the program a second job’s worth of hours |
| Two courses in lighter terms, one in busy ones | 6 to 8 | About 12 to 16 months | Your work has a season, such as budget cycles or campaign launches |
| One course per term | 10 | About 20 months | You want the lightest weekly load |
Important Note
These timelines are estimates based on the 30-credit total and term lengths, not an A-State guarantee. An enrollment advisor builds your actual plan based on the start date you choose and the courses open in a given term.
Workload should shape the pace you choose. Muck Rack’s State of PR 2026 survey found that 55% of PR professionals worked more than 40 hours in the week before the survey. If your weeks already run long, one course per term still gets you to the same degree in under two years.
What the Fast Path Requires
Speed matters to adults who have paused a degree. Lumina Foundation-Gallup’s State of Higher Education 2026 report found that 47% of stopped-out adults said finishing in a short time frame would help them re-enroll. Three things speed up the finish, and an enrollment advisor can show how they apply to your case.
- Course load: Two courses per term set the 10-month pace.
- Transfer credits: A-State evaluates your transcripts and adds accepted credits to your student record.
- Early entry: Students with 60 or more undergraduate credit hours may take up to 12 graduate credit hours early.
A-State offers multiple start dates each year. Ask your advisor which start date fits your work calendar. A term that opens during a campaign launch may call for a lighter load.
What Does an Online Strategic Communications Master’s Cost?
Total tuition for the A-State program is $10,500 for the 30 credits, or $350 per credit, with all fees included. The M.S. in Strategic Communication (General) online program costs the same in Arkansas or any other state. That is the published price, not net of scholarships or other aid.
Accepted transfer credit changes how many credits you pay for. A flat, all-in total allows you to consider the full bill for all 30 credits before you apply. This reflects published program details as of October 2026 and is subject to change; confirm current tuition, credit hours and admission requirements directly with A-State.
Choosing an Affordable Strategic Communication Master’s
Judge affordability by what the total price covers, fees included. Per-credit rates can look alike until fees, test costs and transfer credit enter the discussion. Ask every program you consider these questions.
- What is the total tuition for all the required credits, and are fees in that number?
- Do out-of-state students pay more?
- Is there a GMAT or GRE to prepare for and pay to take?
- How many transfer credits does the school accept, and when will it tell you?
Weigh the program’s price against a goal such as public relations manager. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a May 2025 median wage of $136,470 for public relations and fundraising managers. BLS also notes that some employers prefer a master’s degree, and that managers typically need five or more years of related experience.
How the General and Global Tracks Compare on Time and Cost
A-State’s M.S. in Strategic Communication offers four tracks: General, Global Strategic Communication, Social Media Management and Technology Law & Policy. The table below compares General and Global Strategic Communication. The two tracks share the same length and price, so the choice comes down to emphasis. Choose General for audience research and advertising accounts, or Global Strategic Communication for international work.
| General | Global Strategic Communication | |
|---|---|---|
| Credits and time | 30 credits, as few as 10 months | 30 credits, as few as 10 months |
| Emphasis | Audience analysis, advertising account management, a management capstone and electives such as Crisis Communication and Social Media Measurement; graduates earn Hootsuite certification | The same core plus International Intellectual Property Law, Global Strategic Communication and Development Communication |
| Learn more | M.S. in Strategic Communication (General) | M.S. in Strategic Communications (Global Strategic Communication) |
Look at how each track teaches research and measurement. The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) says its Accreditation in Public Relations credential signifies mastery of the Research, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation framework. In the General track, Audience Market Analysis and the Social Media Measurement elective teach research and evaluation skills.
Dr. Lillie M. Fears leads the Department of Communication and School of Media & Journalism behind both tracks. She has taught journalism at A-State since 1997. In 2016, she received a Scripps Howard Foundation grant to spend two weeks at The Dallas Morning News studying how news outlets use social media.
Dr. Lily Zeng, a professor, serves as graduate program coordinator in the School of Media and Journalism. Zeng has been on the A-State faculty since 2005, and her research focuses on media analytics and crisis communication. She has also taught Social Media Measurement, one of the electives noted above.
Deciding between a practice-first and a theory-first credential? Compare M.A. in Communication Studies vs. M.S. in Strategic Communications at the same price and length.
A-State offers four online master’s programs in communication and media leadership from one department. The M.S. in Media Management can take as few as 12 months. Admission requires a 3.0 GPA, one letter of recommendation and a 500-word statement.
Explore Arkansas State University’s online M.S. in Strategic Communication (General) program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do out-of-state students pay more?
No. Online tuition is $10,500 with all fees included for every student, in or out of Arkansas.
Can transfer credits shorten the program?
Yes. A-State accepts credits after it evaluates your transcripts.
Do I need the GMAT or GRE?
No. Admission requires a bachelor’s degree, a 2.5 cumulative GPA (or 2.75 in your last 60 hours) and a $30 application fee, as of 2026.