Michigan State University College of Communication Arts and Sciences

What Michigan State University College of Communication Arts and Sciences does

Michigan State University College of Communication Arts and Sciences (ComArtSci) is a public university college operating as an academic unit within Michigan State University, a land-grant institution in East Lansing, Michigan. Founded in 1961 as the first College of Communication Arts and Sciences in the nation, the college serves more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students through five academic departments: Advertising + Public Relations, Communication, Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Media and Information, and the School of Journalism. It offers a portfolio of B.A. and B.S. undergraduate degrees, M.A. and M.S. graduate degrees, three Ph.D. programs (Communication, Communicative Sciences and Disorders, and Information and Media), and eight graduate certificates spanning digital media, documentary film, media analytics, serious game design, health and risk communication, and organizational communication.

The college's technology and research infrastructure centers on the Spartan Newsroom with Immersive Media Studio (integrating 360-degree video, VR, and AR production), WKAR public broadcasting station (radio and television), the Games for Entertainment and Learning Lab, the Quello Center (media policy and digital transformation), the CASE Lab (strategic communication), and high-performance computing resources for computational communication research. Distribution is primarily through the main East Lansing campus with satellite field experience programs in Detroit, Chicago, NYC, and LA, plus study abroad programs in Europe and Africa and pre-college outreach including MSU Ignite, MIPA, and a Detroit high school journalism program.

The business model is a hybrid public university revenue structure: tuition and fees from degree-seeking students, Michigan state appropriations under the land-grant mission, sponsored research funding from agencies including CDC, NIH, NSF, USDA, and private foundations, and alumni philanthropy through the annual fund, major gifts, and endowed scholarships. There are no publicly traded shares; the college is state-owned and operates under the MSU Board of Trustees. Application intake is rolling with a November 1 scholarship priority deadline, delivered via the centralized MSU Office of Admissions across online, mail, and in-person channels.

Name

Michigan State University College of Communication Arts and Sciences

Legal name

Michigan State University College of Communication Arts and Sciences

Website

https://comartsci.msu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Michigan State University College of Communication Arts and Sciences is a public university college within MSU serving 4,500+ undergraduate and graduate students across five departments in communication, journalism, advertising, media, and communicative sciences, with internationally ranked programs and research labs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Communication Arts and Sciences

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

Keywords

• Communication education
• Journalism programs
• Advertising degrees
• Media studies
• Higher education

Headquarters

HQ city

East Lansing, MI

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, including in-state and out-of-state rates, per credit hour costs, and mandatory fees.
2. State Funding and Appropriations: Michigan state government funding for public university operations as part of the land-grant mission.
3. Alumni Giving and Philanthropy: Donations through annual fund, major gifts, endowed scholarships, and planned giving through the Alumni & Donors office.
4. Sponsored Research and Grants: External funding from agencies including CDC, NIH, NSF, USDA, and private foundations for communication and media research.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The college delivers degree programs (undergraduate B.A./B.S., master's M.A./M.S., and doctoral Ph.D.) and graduate certificates across five academic departments covering communication, journalism, advertising, public relations, media and information, and communicative sciences and disorders. It also operates WKAR public broadcasting, the Spartan Newsroom with Immersive Media Studio, and multiple research centers (Quello Center, Games for Entertainment and Learning Lab, CASE Lab), supported by sponsored research from CDC, NIH, NSF, USDA, and private foundations.

Product overview

Michigan State University College of Communication Arts and Sciences (ComArtSci) is the first and highest-ranked college of communication arts and sciences in the nation, offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and research centers. The institution operates five academic departments: Advertising + Public Relations, Communication, Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Media and Information, and School of Journalism. The college provides undergraduate degrees (B.A. and B.S.), graduate degrees (M.A., M.S., and Ph.D.), and graduate certificates across communication, media, journalism, and health fields. Research infrastructure includes specialized labs such as the Games for Entertainment and Learning Lab, Quello Center, CASE Lab, and Spartan Newsroom with Immersive Media Studio. The AD+PR/X Talent Portal connects students with industry opportunities. With over 4,500 students and 60,000 alumni, the college prepares students for careers across the arts and sciences of communication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advertising Management B.S. A Bachelor of Science program focused on developing strategic thinking, research and analytical skills for careers in account management, media planning, and advertising leadership. For undergraduate students pursuing advertising management careers.
• Communication B.A. A Bachelor of Arts program providing foundational study in communication processes, interpersonal communication, and media effects. For undergraduate students interested in communication theory and practice.
• Communicative Sciences and Disorders B.S. A Bachelor of Science program studying speech, language, and hearing sciences and disorders. For undergraduates preparing for graduate study or careers in speech-language pathology.
• Creative Advertising B.A. A Bachelor of Arts program focused on creative aspects of advertising including concept development and content creation. For undergraduates pursuing creative advertising careers.
• Digital Storytelling B.A. A Bachelor of Arts program teaching multimedia narrative techniques for digital platforms. For undergraduates interested in digital journalism and storytelling.
• Games and Interactive Media B.A. A Bachelor of Arts program covering game design, development, and interactive media production. For undergraduates interested in game design and interactive media.
• Journalism B.A. A Bachelor of Arts program preparing students for careers in news reporting, investigative journalism, and media writing. For undergraduates pursuing journalism careers.
• Information Science B.A. A Bachelor of Arts program focusing on information science, technology, and data management. For undergraduates interested in information technology and data careers.
• Public Relations B.A. A Bachelor of Arts program covering strategic communication, reputation management, and public relations practices. For undergraduates pursuing PR careers.
• Communication Leadership and Strategy B.A. A Bachelor of Arts program combining communication theory with strategic leadership skills. For undergraduates pursuing leadership roles in communication-intensive organizations.
• Advertising + Public Relations M.A. A Master of Arts program covering strategic and theoretical principles of advertising and public relations, digital analytics, and multimedia content creation. For graduate students pursuing advanced advertising and PR careers.
• Communication M.A. A Master of Arts program available in thesis and career-oriented tracks, focusing on communication variables and strategy development. For graduate students pursuing advanced communication studies.
• Communicative Sciences and Disorders M.A. A Master of Arts program providing advanced clinical training in speech-language pathology. For graduate students pursuing clinical careers in speech-language pathology.
• Health and Risk Communication M.A. A Master of Arts program focusing on health communication, risk messaging, and public health campaigns. For graduate students pursuing careers in health communication.
• International Digital Advertising M.A. A Master of Arts program examining global digital advertising strategies and cross-cultural marketing. For graduate students pursuing international advertising careers.
• Journalism M.A. A Master of Arts program advancing journalism skills including investigative reporting and multimedia storytelling. For graduate students pursuing advanced journalism careers.
• Media and Information M.A. A Master of Arts program covering media studies, information science, and digital media environments. For graduate students pursuing advanced media studies careers.
• Strategic Communication M.A. A Master of Arts program focused on strategic communication planning and organizational messaging. For graduate students pursuing strategic communication careers in organizations.
• User Experience M.S. A Master of Science program covering UX design, research methods, and human-computer interaction. For graduate students pursuing UX research and design careers.
• Communication Ph.D. A fully-funded four-year doctoral program founded in 1961, focusing on scholarly analysis of social processes and message characteristics, with specializations including social network analysis, health communication, and persuasion. For doctoral students pursuing academic and research careers in communication.
• Communicative Sciences and Disorders Ph.D. A doctoral program providing advanced research training tailored to individual professional goals in speech, language, and hearing sciences. For doctoral students pursuing research careers in communicative sciences.
• Information and Media Ph.D. A doctoral program jointly offered by advertising and public relations, examining information science and media studies. For doctoral students pursuing research careers at the intersection of advertising, information science, and media.
• Digital Media Certificate A graduate certificate program providing digital media production and strategy skills. For graduate students and professionals seeking specialized credentials.
• Documentary Film Graduate Certificate A graduate certificate covering documentary filmmaking techniques and production. For graduate students and professionals pursuing documentary film credentials.
• Graduate Certificate in College Teaching A graduate certificate offered in partnership with the MSU Graduate School, providing advanced study in post-secondary teaching methodologies. For graduate students preparing for academic teaching careers.
• Graduate Certificate in Journalism A graduate certificate program enhancing journalism skills and professional development. For graduate students and professionals seeking journalism credentials.
• Health and Risk Communication Certificate A graduate certificate focusing on health communication strategies and risk messaging. For graduate students and professionals in public health and risk communication.
• Media Analytics Certificate A graduate certificate covering media analytics, data interpretation, and strategic insights. For graduate students and professionals pursuing analytics credentials.
• Organizational Communication for Leadership Certificate A graduate certificate developing organizational communication skills for leadership positions. For graduate students and professionals pursuing leadership roles in organizations.
• Serious Game Design MA Certificate

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked #5 globally in Communication by ShanghaiRanking
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Association of National Advertisers (ANA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaculty member Edward Timke works closely with ANA and ANA Educational Foundation in New York to develop educational programs bridging academia and industry. Co-spearheaded creation of SeeHer's open-access certificate on gender and advertising.
• EducationUSAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal network of 450+ advising centers supported by U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Provides referral services for international student recruitment to local U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and educational advising centers worldwide.
• WKAR Public MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSU's public broadcasting station producing television and radio content. Provides hands-on training opportunities for journalism and media students in broadcast journalism.
• Snap Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company visited during LA industry immersion trip. Students tour facilities and learn about social media advertising and technology careers.
• DeutschminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvertising agency visited during LA immersion experience. Provides industry insight into creative advertising and agency operations.
• Amazon StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntertainment production company visited during LA trip. Exposes students to film and television production careers.
• MOCEANminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia company visited during LA immersion program. Part of industry exposure opportunities.
• Gonna StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntertainment studio visited during LA trip for industry immersion.
• Allied Global MarketingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarketing company visited during LA immersion providing industry exposure.
• Horticultural Research InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch funding organization that awarded grant to MSU researchers Juan Mundel and Patricia Huddleston for AI and digital marketing research in plant sales.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Wisconsin-Madison - School of Journalism and Mass Communication: Big Ten peer public research university school with undergraduate and graduate programs in journalism, strategic communication, and media studies. Highly comparable given shared conference and overlapping regional employer base.
• University of Pennsylvania - Annenberg School for Communication: Ivy League school offering undergraduate and graduate communication programs with strong research output. Comparable in doctoral/research strength though smaller in scale than MSU ComArtSci's undergraduate enrollment.
• Boston University - College of Communication: Large private university college offering undergraduate and graduate programs in journalism, media, public relations, and communication studies. Comparable program mix and experiential-learning focus.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Hussman School of Journalism and Media: Public research university school with undergraduate and graduate programs in journalism, media, and advertising. The current dean of MSU ComArtSci (Heidi Hennink-Kaminski) previously held senior associate dean roles at Hussman, evidencing direct overlap in mission and curriculum design.
• University of Florida - College of Journalism and Communications: Public research university college offering B.S., M.A., M.S., and Ph.D. programs in journalism, advertising/public relations, and media production with strong industry placement. Comparable scale and public-research positioning; one of the most cited direct peers for MSU ComArtSci.
• Northwestern University - Medill School of Journalism: Elite private school of journalism with integrated media and integrated marketing communications graduate programs. Competes for top advertising and journalism graduate students and corporate partnerships across the same employer base.
• S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University: Private university school offering undergraduate and graduate programs in advertising, public relations, journalism, and media with a top-ranked reputation. Direct competitor for high-caliber communications applicants and corporate recruiting pipelines.
• University of Texas at Austin - Moody College of Communication: Large public research university college of communication offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in advertising, journalism, communication studies, and radio-television-film. Closest large-public analog to MSU ComArtSci with similar scale, public research mission, and broadcast station (KVRX).
• University of Southern California - Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism: Private research university school offering communication, journalism, and public relations degrees with strong LA media-industry connections. Competes for similar top-tier graduate applicants and industry placement, particularly through Los Angeles immersion pathways.
• Indiana University - The Media School: Big Ten public research university media school offering journalism, advertising, and media production programs with industry pipeline focus and immersive media capabilities. Direct competitor for Midwest applicant pools and corporate recruiting partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MSUComArtSci
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MSUcommarts
• Facebookfacebook.com/MSUComArtSci
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/michigan-state-university-college-of-communication
• Instagraminstagram.com/msucomartsci

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Michigan State University College of Communication Arts and Sciences