Best Online Communications Programs in Montrose, CO (2026)

Montrose, Colorado has 4 accredited schools offering communications programs, with tuition ranging from $2,616 to $14,799 per year for indexed programs. Montrose has a population of about 20,703. Median household income is $63,177 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 33.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Colorado, the top-earning communications-related role is Public Relations Manager at a median $162,870 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Communications Schools to Montrose

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer communications programs near Montrose, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Montrose city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Montrose. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Western Colorado University

Gunnison, CO 51.1 miles from Montrose BOC Score 45.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 48%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,833
Avg net price $16,425/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 10

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, CO 56.6 miles from Montrose BOC Score 56.7
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,823
Avg net price $15,103/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 76

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Colorado Mountain College

Glenwood Springs, CO 79.8 miles from Montrose BOC Score 52.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 27%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,127
Avg net price $7,813/yr
Tuition
In‑state$2,616
Out‑of‑state$12,840
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 47%
  • Programs offered: 39

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Fort Lewis College

Durango, CO 82.5 miles from Montrose BOC Score 40.7
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 47%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,349
Avg net price $17,296/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 64%
  • Programs offered: 17

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Adams State University

Alamosa, CO 127.7 miles from Montrose BOC Score 37.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 39%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,372
Avg net price $12,980/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 53%
  • Programs offered: 15

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, CO 167.6 miles from Montrose BOC Score 48.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 97%
Graduation rate 46%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,659
Avg net price $15,788/yr
Tuition
In‑state$10,149
Out‑of‑state$24,336
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 68%
  • Programs offered: 33

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Red Rocks Community College

Lakewood, CO 168.4 miles from Montrose BOC Score 64.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 32%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,288
Avg net price $9,044/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 93%
  • Programs offered: 78

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Colorado Christian University

Lakewood, CO 171.3 miles from Montrose BOC Score 36.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $50,416
Avg net price $29,500/yr
Tuition
In‑state$41,342
Out‑of‑state$41,342
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 81%
  • Programs offered: 41

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Colorado schools on the Colorado communications page.


Communications Wages Near Montrose

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Colorado, statewide)
Public Relations Specialist$80,680
Public Relations Manager$162,870
News Analyst, Reporter and Journalist$60,770
Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist$93,050

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Montrose at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population20,703Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$63,177Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+33.6%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Montrose-Area Cities With Communications Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited communications schools are near Montrose, CO?

Our directory has 4 accredited schools offering communications programs near Montrose. The closest is Western Colorado University in Gunnison, CO (51.1 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Fort Lewis College (82.5 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying communications roles in Colorado?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying communications-related roles in Colorado are: Public Relations Manager ($162,870), Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist ($93,050), Public Relations Specialist ($80,680). Wages for Montrose workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Grand Junction instead of Montrose?

Grand Junction, CO is 57.3 miles from Montrose and has its own set of local communications programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Montrose an affordable place to study communications?

Montrose’s median household income of $63,177 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Montrose while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Colorado public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Communications Programs

Other Programs Available in Montrose

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Montrose:

Data verified: July 30, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.