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Best Online Communications Programs in Hickory, NC (2026)
Hickory, North Carolina has 5 accredited schools offering communications programs, with tuition ranging from $31,900 to $49,498 per year for indexed programs. Hickory has a population of about 43,747. Median household income is $63,361 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 35.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In North Carolina, the top-earning communications-related role is Public Relations Manager at a median $132,280 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Communications Schools to Hickory
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer communications programs near Hickory, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Hickory city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
No school data available.
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all North Carolina schools on the North Carolina communications page.
Communications Wages Near Hickory
Hickory is part of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area (BLS area code 25860). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to North Carolina statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $58,270 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $65,842 |
| Public Relations Manager | $132,280 | NC statewide | $149,469 |
| News Analyst, Reporter and Journalist | $58,670 | NC statewide | $66,294 |
| Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist | $75,450 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $85,254 |
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.
Hickory at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,747 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $63,361 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 35.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 88.5 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Hickory-Area Cities With Communications Programs
- Lincolnton, NC – 19.1 mi away (23,264 pop)
- Statesville, NC – 25.5 mi away (26,506 pop)
- Mooresville, NC – 30.0 mi away (36,543 pop)
- Cornelius, NC – 30.9 mi away (28,515 pop)
- Shelby, NC – 33.7 mi away (27,288 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited communications schools are near Hickory, NC?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering communications programs near Hickory. The closest is Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, NC (0.5 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Lees-McRae College (42.3 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying communications roles near Hickory?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying communications-related roles near Hickory are: Public Relations Manager ($132,280), Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist ($75,450), News Analyst, Reporter and Journalist ($58,670). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with North Carolina statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Lincolnton instead of Hickory?
Lincolnton, NC is 19.1 miles from Hickory 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 Hickory an affordable place to study communications?
Hickory’s median household income of $63,361 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Hickory while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and North Carolina 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
- Is a Communications degree worth it?
- Main Communications degree guide
- Online Communications programs in North Carolina
- Communications programs by state
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Data verified: August 10, 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.
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