Quick Highlights
Arkansas State University’s online M.S. in Strategic Communication – General program develops research, analysis and practical communication skills for people who want to lead communications at companies, agencies, nonprofits and government offices. BLS reports a 2025 national median salary of $74,750 for public relations specialists and $136,470 for public relations and fundraising managers, a role that typically requires five or more years of related experience.
A strategic communications master’s can help communication professionals strengthen their leadership, research and strategic planning skills as they prepare for expanded responsibilities. If you handle communications alone at a hospital, agency or nonprofit, the online Master of Science (M.S.) in Strategic Communication – General program at Arkansas State University (A-State) adds advanced research, audience analysis, strategic planning, communication measurement and account management skills.
Communications Leadership Roles and National Median Pay
Communications leaders hold different titles by employer, so the table groups common role categories. Descriptions follow the BLS public relations managers profile and O*NET listings; pay is the 2025 national median.
| Role family | Typical level | What the job involves | National median pay (BLS, May 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public relations and media relations | Specialist to manager | Pitches stories, answers reporters and protects reputation | $74,750, public relations specialists |
| Nonprofit communications | Specialist to manager | Tells the organization’s story to donors, members and the public | $74,750, public relations specialists (closest BLS occupation) |
| Corporate communications | Manager | Develops organizational messaging strategy, manages reputation, oversees executive communications and coordinates communication channels | $136,470, public relations and fundraising managers |
| Internal communications | Manager | Keeps employees informed through change and leadership messaging | $146,910, public relations managers (used as the closest available BLS comparison because internal communications manager is not reported as a separate occupation) |
| Crisis communication | Manager | Plans for and leads the response when reputation is at risk | $146,910, public relations managers (closest BLS occupation) |
| Marketing communications | Manager | Coordinates campaigns across paid, earned, shared and owned media | $165,780, advertising, promotions and marketing managers |
Neither internal nor crisis communication is a separate BLS occupation. O*NET lists their duties among the tasks of public relations managers, the closest occupation for each.
Important Information
Salary figures are 2025 national medians, and outlook figures are 2025 to 2035 projections from BLS, covering all employers and regions. They do not predict any individual’s pay, and Arkansas State University does not guarantee a job, raise or promotion.
Communications Pay: What BLS and O*NET Report
BLS reports a 2025 national median of $136,470 for public relations and fundraising managers and lists five or more years of related experience as typical for the role. BLS adds that some positions may require a master’s degree.
Across all occupations, the BLS education and earnings table shows 2025 median weekly earnings of $1,876 for master’s degree holders and $1,578 for bachelor’s degree holders, a $298 difference. Because the data includes all occupations and industries, it should not be interpreted as an expected salary increase from completing this specific degree. This is a national median for every field, so read it as direction, not as a forecast for your pay.
BLS does not report pay for director or vice president titles. O*NET lists communications director and PR director among public relations manager titles, so that $146,910 national median is the nearest published benchmark.
Job Outlook for Communications Professionals
If you are weighing a move from specialist to manager, BLS projections show different growth and hiring volume at each level. Openings include replacements for departing workers.
- BLS projects employment of public relations and fundraising managers to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, about 7,200 jobs on a base of 129,600.
- Public relations specialists are projected to grow 2%, about 5,700 jobs on a base of 314,500, with about 23,000 openings a year.
- Advertising, promotions and marketing managers are projected to grow 6%, about 27,900 jobs.
Growth is slower for specialists, and managers typically need five or more years of related experience, so manager figures describe a level reached after specialist work. An occupation growing 2% can still open about 23,000 positions a year.
Is a Master’s in Communications Worth It for PR Professionals?
Yes, if you want to lead the communications function: A-State’s online M.S. in Strategic Communication – General program builds research, audience analysis and account management insight through courses such as Audience Market Analysis and Advertising Account Management. That gives a working communicator formal grounding in the planning behind the work.
A credential such as the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), which PRSA says certifies professionalism and principles, can sit alongside a master’s. The degree adds coursework in research and management.
Coursework can change everyday drafting. Nancy Meador, communications coordinator at First Electric Cooperative and a student in the online M.S. in Media Management, Digital Management program as of 2019, said that studying theory and critical thinking “makes you stop and think before you draft a news release or post something on social media about what message you are sending and how it will be interpreted by your stakeholders.”
If you are asked to set direction without the title, the online M.S. in Strategic Communication – General program’s coursework applies in situations like these:
- You run communications for your organization but not the strategy, budget or research behind it.
- You have handled an organizational crisis well and want a planning framework foundation, such as the Crisis Communication elective.
- A director opening asks for a master’s or lists one as preferred.
- You want to move from execution to client and account management.
If two or more apply, compare the program’s course list with what your next role will ask of you. It shows whether the coursework covers your gaps.
What A-State’s General Program and Global Emphasis Cover
The online M.S. in Strategic Communication – General program builds the practitioner-leader through five core courses: Quantitative Research Methods, Audience Market Analysis, Advertising Account Management, Seminar in Strategic Communications and a Strategic Communication Management Capstone. Electives include Crisis Communication, Integrated Marketing Communications and Social Media Measurement, and students graduate with Hootsuite certification.
The program is 30 credits and can be completed online in as few as 10 months, with 7-week courses (5 weeks in summer) designed for working professionals. Total tuition is $10,500 for all U.S. residents.
If your target employer works across borders, the Global Strategic Communication emphasis keeps the same price and length and adds courses such as International Intellectual Property Law and Development Communication.
Important Information
Tuition of $10,500 includes fees, and a separate nonrefundable $30 application fee applies. Students should confirm current tuition and program details before applying. “As few as 10 months” applies to the 30-credit program’s seven-week course format (five weeks in summer), and completion times vary.
See the course list, tuition and admission requirements for A-State’s online M.S. in Strategic Communication – General program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do with a master’s in strategic communications?
You can pursue communications leadership in corporate communications, public relations, internal communications, crisis communication and nonprofit communications, among other roles. The degree builds research, audience analysis and management skills for those positions.
What’s the salary for strategic communications managers?
BLS reports a 2025 national median salary of $136,470 for public relations and fundraising managers, a role that typically requires five or more years of related experience. Pay varies by employer, industry and region.
What do communications directors earn with a master’s degree?
O*NET lists communications director among the job titles for public relations managers, whose 2025 national median pay is $146,910 according to BLS. BLS does not report pay for director titles separately or by degree.
What’s the job outlook for communications professionals?
BLS projects 6% growth for public relations and fundraising managers and 2% for public relations specialists from 2025 to 2035.
Is a master’s in communications worth it for PR professionals?
Yes, if your goal is to lead the communications function: the online M.S. in Strategic Communication – General program adds research methods, audience analysis and account management coursework to the writing and pitching you already do. Its course list shows whether it matches the responsibilities you want.