Post job

Communications instructor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a communications instructor. Communications instructors usually study communication, psychology, or business. 53% of communications instructors hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 3,053 real communications instructor resumes to see exactly what communications instructor education sections show.

The most common colleges for communications instructors are the Monroe College and the Monroe College.

There are also many online communications instructor courses to help get the education required to be a communications instructor.

There are certain communications instructor certifications that you should consider. These communications instructor certifications include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant.

What education do you need to become a communications instructor?

What degree do you need to be a communications instructor?

The most common degree for communications instructors is bachelor's degree, with 53% of communications instructors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 17% and master's degree degree at 16%.
  • Bachelor's, 53%
  • Master's, 17%
  • Associate, 16%
  • High School Diploma, 7%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become a communications instructor?

You should major in communication to become a communications instructor. 20% of communications instructors major in communication. Other common majors for a communications instructor include psychology and business.

Most common colleges for communications instructors

Communications instructors often get their degrees at Monroe College, St. Louis, and University of Phoenix. Here are the most common colleges for communications instructors in the US based on their resumes.
Communications instructor common collegePercentages
Monroe College16.84%
St. Louis12.28%
University of Phoenix6.67%
SUNY College at Brockport5.26%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro4.91%

Best majors for communications instructors

RankMajorPercentages
1Communication20.1%
2Psychology10.5%
3Business9.1%
4English7.4%
5Criminal Justice4.9%

Best colleges for communications instructors

The best colleges for communications instructors are Vanderbilt University, Northeastern University, and University of Virginia.

A communications instructor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for communications instructors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become communications instructors.

1. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Enrollment

34,637

2. University of Delaware

Newark, DE • Private

In-state tuition

$13,680

Enrollment

19,060

3. Minnesota State University - Mankato

Mankato, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$8,184

Enrollment

11,675

4. California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,922

Enrollment

17,704

5. SUNY College at Brockport

Brockport, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,412

Enrollment

7,015

6. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

7. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

In-state tuition

$49,816

Enrollment

6,840

8. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Enrollment

13,871

9. Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$14,617

Enrollment

12,761

10. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

20 best online courses for communications instructors

Advertising disclosure

1. Community Awareness Course: Sexuality and Disability

coursera

This community awareness course from the University of Minnesota Program on Human Sexuality will provide you with a solid introduction to human sexuality for those living with disabilities. Often there are assumptions that the disabled or differently abled people are not sexual, do not have sexual needs, or cannot be involved sexually. In this professionally produced one-hour course, you'll learn about the basics of disabilities and human sexuality. We'll then learn about three different...

2. Communication Skills Masterclass - Your Communication Guide

udemy
4.5
(961)

Communication Skill For Business Communication & Effective Communication In Workplace & Relationships...

3. Effective Communication Skills: Be a Better Communicator!

udemy
4
(404)

NEW UPGRADED COURSE: Learn proven, effective communication skills, how to question, listen actively & overcome problems...

4. Communication Skills Masterclass: Speak Like A Leader

udemy
4.2
(295)

Master Public Speaking, Business Communication, Presentation Skills, Storytelling, Body Language, Listening & More!...

5. Communication Fundamentals: How To Communicate Better

udemy
4.5
(82,838)

Become an Effective Communicator And Learn How to Get Your Message Across By Learning Communication Fundamentals...

6. Communication Skills - 7 Communication Courses In 1

udemy
4.6
(748)

Master Communication Skills: Learn Persuasion, Negotiation, Body Language, Emotional Intelligence & More!...

7. Winning With Communication - Master Communication Skills

udemy
4.4
(539)

Communication Training Course - Develop True Communication Mastery!...

8. Assertive Communication Skills Masterclass

udemy
4.5
(10,770)

Assertive Communication Skills for Business & Social Life. Speak Confidently. Set Boundaries. Difficult conversations...

9. Executive Communication Training

udemy
4.5
(272)

Being a great leader without being a great communicator is nearly impossible...

10. Communication Skills for Beginners

udemy
4.5
(5,736)

Start Building Your Communication Skills Now...

11. Effective Communication in the Workplace

udemy
4.6
(9,714)

Business Communication Training...

12. Basic Communication Skills

udemy
4.4
(485)

Learn how to be an effective communicator...

13. The Art of Communications - Become A Master Communicator

udemy
4.5
(8,409)

Communication skills training. Confidence. Public Speaking. Promotion. Body Language. Pay raise. Job interview. Speech...

14. Communication Skills for Beginners

udemy
4.3
(280)

Basic tips and techniques to develop the communication skills effectively - enhance your success in career...

15. Versatile Communication Skills - The Art of Engagement

udemy
4.5
(290)

Powerful, practical, communication skills that drive engagement & build effective professional & personal relationships...

16. The Complete Communication Skills Master Class for Life

udemy
4.5
(24,987)

Communication Skills for Persuasion, Assertiveness and All Business Communication Needs...

17. Communication Skills PLUS Leadership - 2 in 1 Masterclass

udemy
4.5
(4,367)

Learn Communication & Leadership Skills For Inspiration, Success In Life, Work PLUS Interviews, Case Studies, Activities...

18. Public Speaking & Communicating: Skip Theory, Master the Art

udemy
4.6
(2,476)

Public Speaking,Presenting,Communicating. After years in the Making: The Spark Words method has been proven by Thousands...

19. Authentic Assertiveness: Next level communication skills.

udemy
4.7
(567)

Increase your social skills and assertive communication, while you reduce your stress, fears, and other mental blocks...

20. The Complete Nonverbal Communication Course - Body Language

udemy
4.5
(452)

Nonverbal Communication for Business, Public Speaking and Life - Display Confidence and High Self Esteem...

Top 10 most affordable universities for communications instructors

The most affordable schools for communications instructors are Hunter College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for communications instructors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for communications instructors.

1. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

5. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

8. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

9. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

10. California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,922

Cost of attendance

18,522

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for communications instructors

The hardest universities for communications instructors to get into are Vanderbilt University, Northeastern University, and University of Virginia.

Some great schools for communications instructors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for communications instructors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

2. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

3. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

26%

SAT average

1,427

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

5. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

6. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,407

7. University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL • Private

Admissions rate

32%

SAT average

1,365

8. Clemson University

Clemson, SC • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,337

9. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

10. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for communications instructors

The easiest schools for communications instructors to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, wayland baptist university, and gwynedd mercy university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a communications instructor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for communications instructors.

1. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

2. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

3. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

4. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

5. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

6. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

7. Bluefield College

Bluefield, VA • Private

Admissions rate

95%

SAT average

980

8. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

9. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

10. Pennsylvania State University - Worthington Scranton

Dunmore, PA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

1,056

Average communications instructor salary by education level

According to our data, communications instructors with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $74,333 annually. Communications instructors with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $62,793.
Communications instructor education levelCommunications instructor salary
Master's Degree$74,333
High School Diploma or Less$49,969
Bachelor's Degree$62,793
Some College/ Associate Degree$50,595

Communications instructor education FAQs

Search for communications instructor jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse community and social services jobs