Post job

Director, corporate communications education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a director, corporate communications. Directors, corporate communications usually study communication, journalism, or business. 80% of directors, corporate communications hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,912 real director, corporate communications resumes to see exactly what director, corporate communications education sections show.

The most common colleges for directors, corporate communications are the New York University and the New York University.

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

There are certain director, corporate communications certifications that you should consider. These director, corporate communications certifications include Accreditation in Public Relations (PR) and Professional Certified Marketer (PCM).

What education do you need to become a director, corporate communications?

What degree do you need to be a director, corporate communications?

The most common degree for directors, corporate communications is bachelor's degree, with 80% of directors, corporate communications earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 16% and master's degree degree at 3%.
  • Bachelor's, 80%
  • Master's, 16%
  • Associate, 3%
  • Doctorate, 1%
  • Other Degrees, 0%

What should I major in to become a director, corporate communications?

You should major in communication to become a director, corporate communications. 19% of directors, corporate communications major in communication. Other common majors for a director, corporate communications include journalism and business.

Most common colleges for directors, corporate communications

Directors, corporate communications often get their degrees at New York University, Boston University, and University of Maryland - College Park. Here are the most common colleges for directors, corporate communications in the US based on their resumes.
Director, corporate communications common collegePercentages
New York University8.79%
Boston University8.42%
University of Maryland - College Park7.33%
Syracuse University6.59%
San Jose State University6.23%

Best majors for directors, corporate communications

RankMajorPercentages
1Communication18.5%
2Journalism16.1%
3Business11.1%
4English10.1%
5Marketing7.6%

Best colleges for directors, corporate communications

The best colleges for directors, corporate communications are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.

A director, corporate communications with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for directors, corporate communications. 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 directors, corporate communications.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

3. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

5. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

7. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

8. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

9. Brown University

Providence, RI • Private

In-state tuition

$55,466

Enrollment

6,752

10. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,184

Enrollment

30,845

20 best online courses for directors, corporate communications

Advertising disclosure

1. Communication Skills Masterclass - Your Communication Guide

udemy
4.5
(961)

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

2. 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...

3. Executive Communication Training

udemy
4.5
(272)

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

4. Winning With Communication - Master Communication Skills

udemy
4.4
(539)

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

5. Communication Skills - 7 Communication Courses In 1

udemy
4.6
(748)

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

6. 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...

7. 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...

8. Communication Skills for Beginners

udemy
4.5
(5,736)

Start Building Your Communication Skills Now...

9. CSR Development & Communications: Make a Difference Today!

udemy
4.4
(378)

Introduction to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program Development & Communication...

10. Effective Communication in the Workplace

udemy
4.6
(9,714)

Business Communication Training...

11. Communicate Like a CEO

udemy
4.4
(454)

Dramatically improve your leadership communication skills on the way to the c-suite...

12. Basic Communication Skills

udemy
4.4
(485)

Learn how to be an effective communicator...

13. Assertive Communication Skills Masterclass

udemy
4.5
(10,770)

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

14. The Ultimate Business Communication Course

udemy
4.2
(428)

Everything You Need to Master Business Communication in One Course!...

15. Intercultural communication

udemy
4.5
(1,035)

Get the best experience interacting with people from other culture or background...

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. ChatGPT for Better Business Communication

udemy
4.5
(548)

How to use AI to Increase Productivity and Communicate More Effectively [Improve Business Writing Skills with GPT 4]...

18. Communication Skills for Beginners

udemy
4.3
(280)

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

19. Communication Skills for the Global Workplace

udemy
4.6
(728)

Practical Communication Skills...

20. The Complete Business Communication Masterclass

udemy
4.6
(2,062)

Improve your productivity and relationships in the workplace through the hidden secrets of communication!...

Top 10 most affordable universities for directors, corporate communications

The most affordable schools for directors, corporate communications are SUNY Farmingdale, baruch college of the city university of new york, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for directors, corporate communications 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 directors, corporate communications.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

5. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

6. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

7. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

8. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,419

Cost of attendance

17,697

9. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

10. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for directors, corporate communications

The hardest universities for directors, corporate communications to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.

Some great schools for directors, corporate communications 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 directors, corporate communications 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. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

4. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,321

5. Hamilton College

Clinton, NY • Private

Admissions rate

21%

SAT average

1,446

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

7. Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,321

8. Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

51%

SAT average

1,395

9. Clemson University

Clemson, SC • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,337

10. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for directors, corporate communications

The easiest schools for directors, corporate communications to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, nyack college, and gwynedd mercy university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a director, corporate communications 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 directors, corporate communications.

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

2. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

3. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

4. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

5. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

6. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

7. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

8. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

9. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

10. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

Average director, corporate communications salary by education level

According to our data, directors, corporate communications with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $125,031 annually. Directors, corporate communications with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $108,501.
Director, corporate communications education levelDirector, corporate communications salary
Master's Degree$125,031
Bachelor's Degree$108,501

Director, corporate communications education FAQs

Search for director, corporate communications 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 executive management jobs