You are here: SOC by the Numbers

Contact Us

(202) 885-2058

McKinley Building

School of Communication 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United States

Back to top

SOC by the Numbers

Here you will find information on retention and graduation rates of students in our undergraduate and graduate degree programs. In the School of Communication, you will be both supported and challenged. A careful balance of challenge and support equals success for our students-and our numbers prove it.

Undergraduate Retention & Graduation Rates

Rates are based on the academic program of the students at the point that they began their career at AU. Many students change their academic program/major during their time at AU. Last updated: 8/9/2019

Entering Full-Time Freshmen

Entering Full-Time Freshmen
Start Term Number 1-Year Retention Rate 2-year Retention Rate 3-year Retention Rate + Grad Rate 4-year Retention Rate + Grad Rate
Fall 2017 155 86% N/A N/A  N/A

Fall 2016

189

92.1%

83%

N/A

N/A

Fall 2015

194

87%

81%

78%

73%

Fall 2014

205

86%

80.9%

82%

79%

Fall 2013

181

88%

82%

82%

81%

Fall 2012

183

88%

84%

84%

N/A

Fall 2011

187

91%

87%

83%

82%

Fall 2010

168

88%

81%

80%

79%

Fall 2009

170

93%

88%

87%

85%

Entering Full-Time Freshmen

Entering Full-Time Freshmen
Start Term Number 3-Year Grad Rate 4-year Grad Rate 5-year Grad Rate 6-year Grad Rate
Fall 2015 194 1.5% N/A N/A N/A

Fall 2014

205

2.4%

73.7%

N/A

N/A

Fall 2013

180

3%

73%

79%

N/A

Fall 2012

183

3%

77%

81.4%

82.5%

Fall 2011

187

1%

77%

81%

80.6%

Fall 2010

168

4%

77%

79%

79%

Fall 2009

170

1%

79%

86%

86%

Fall 2008

156

3%

76%

81%

83%

Fall 2007

125

5%

79%

82%

83%

Graduate Retention Rates

Rates are based on the academic program of students at the point they began their career at AU. Last updated: 8/5/2019.

Fall 2018 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2015 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2018 1-Year Retention + Grad Rate 2-Year Retention + Grad Rate

Film and Media Arts(MFA, three years)*

16

100%

N/A

Film and Media Production (two years)*

17

94.10%

N/A

Global Media (two years)*

2

100%

N/A

Journalism & Digital Storytelling (weekend, 20 months)

8

100%

N/A

Journalism and Public Affairs (11 months)

28

100%

N/A

Political Communiction (two years)

17

100%

N/A

Strategic Communication (11 months)

34

100%

N/A

Strategic Communication (online program)

14

85.20%

N/A

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

12

91.70%

N/A

Game Design (two years)

6

83.30%

N/A

Total

167

N/A

N/A

* The Film and Media Arts MFA was formerly known as the Film and Electronic Media MFA, the Film and Media Arts MA was formerly known as the Film and Media Production MA, the Global Media Program is currently on hiatus.

Fall 2017 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2015 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2017 1-Year Retention + Grad Rate 2-Year Retention + Grad Rate

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

12

100%

91.70%

Film and Media Arts (two years)

19

89.5%

84.20%

Global Media (two years)

6

100%

83.30%

Journalism & Digital Storytelling (weekend, 20 months)

11

90.9%

63.60%

Journalism and Public Affairs (11 months)

28

96.97%

N/A

Political Communiction (two years)

17

100%

88.20%

Strategic Communication (11 months)

35

97.10%

N/A

Strategic Communication (online program)

24

83.3%

83.3%

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

9

100%

88.90%

Game Design (two years)

6

100%

100%

Total

179

N/A

N/A

Fall 2016 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2016 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2016 1-Year Retention + Grad Rate 2-Year Retention + Grad Rate

 

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

11

90.9%

90.9%

Film and Media Arts (two years)

16

87.5%

68.80%

International Media (two years)

4

100%

100%

Interactive Journalism (weekend, 20 months)

Program name changed to Journalism & Digital Storytelling

Journalism and Public Affairs (11 months)

28

91.1%

N/A

Political Communiction (two years)

11

100%

90.9%

Strategic Communication (11 months)

39

92.30%

N/A

Strategic Communication (online program)

53

96.2%

84.90%

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

10

80%

100%

Game Design (two years)

4

100%

100%

Journalism & Digital Storytelling (weekend, 20 months)

7

100%

57.1%

Total

183

N/A

N/A

Fall 2015 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2015 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2015 1-Year Retention + Grad Rate 2-Year Retention + Grad Rate

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

18

88.9%

88.9%

Film and Media Arts (two years)

24

72.7%

66.7%

International Media (two years)

7

100%

100%

Interactive Journalism (weekend, 20 months)

16

81.3%

75%

Journalism and Public Affairs (11 months)

31

83.7%

N/A

Political Communiction (two years)

8

100%

100%

Strategic Communication (11 months)

47

89.4%

N/A

Strategic Communication (online program)

47

78.7%

80.9%

Strategic Communication (weekend program)

12

91.7%

91.7%

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

20

95%

95%

Total

204

91%

N/A

Fall 2014 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2014 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2014 1-Year Retention + Grad Rate 2-Year Retention + Grad Rate

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

21

100%

76.2%

Film and Video (two years)

23

91%

39.1%

International Media (two years)

4

75%

100%

Interactive Journalism (weekend, 20 months)

10

90%

80%

Journalism and Public Affairs (11 months)

27

96.2%

96.2%

Media Entrepreneurship

7

100%

N/A

Political Communiction (two years)

6

83.3%

66.7%

Strategic Communication (11 months)

36

91.7%

91.7%

Strategic Communication (online program)

48

85.4%

83.3%

Strategic Communication (weekend program)

13

100%

100%

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

9

89%

44.4%

Total

204

91%

75.8%

Fall 2013 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2013 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2013 1-Year Retention + Grad Rate 2-Year Retention + Grad Rate

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

18

94%

89%

Film and Video (two years)

20

100%

65%

International Media (two years)

11

91%

91%

Interactive Journalism (weekend, 20 months)

11

91%

91%

Journalism and Public Affairs (11 months)

20

95%

95%

Media Entrepreneurship

11

100%

100%

Political Communiction (two years)

8

88%

75%

Strategic Communication (11 months)

44

93%

93%

Strategic Communication (weekend program)

17

100%

100%

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

23

78%

65%

Total

183

93%

83%

Fall 2012 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2012 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2012 1-Year Retention + Grad Rate 2-Year Retention + Grad Rate

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

20

85%

N/A

Film and Video (two years)

25

84%

N/A

International Media (two years)

9

89%

N/A

Broadcast Journalism (11 months)

11

100%

100%

Interactive Journalism (weekend, 20 months)

14

87%

93%

Print Journalism (11 months)

9

78%

78%

Media Entrepreneurship

9

78%

N/A

Political Communiction (two years)

9

100%

100%

Public Communication (11 months)

45

89%

89%

Public Communication (weekend program)

21

100%

100%

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

17

94%

N/A

Total

191

91%

N/A

Fall 2011 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2011 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2011 1-Year Retention + Grad Rate 2-Year Retention + Grad Rate 3-Year Retention + Grad Rate

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

17

100%

88%

N/A

Film and Video (two years)

22

95%

95%

N/A

International Media (two years)

11

91%

73%

N/A

Broadcast Journalism (11 months)

12

91%

91%

91%

Interactive Journalism (weekend, 20 months)

17

82%

82%

82%

Print Journalism (11 months)

11

100%

100%

100%

Political Communiction (two years)

9

89%

89%

89%

Public Communication (11 months)

55

96%

96%

96%

Public Communication (weekend, 20 months)

18

100%

100%

100%

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

18

83%

72%

N/A

Total

187

94%

91%

N/A

Fall 2010 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2010 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2010 1-Year Retention + Grad Rate 2-Year Retention + Grad Rate 3-Year Retention + Grad Rate 4-Year Retention + Grad Rate

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

21

95%

86%

86%

N/A

Film and Video (two years)

22

82%

82%

68%

N/A

International Media (two years)

11

82%

82%

73%

N/A

Broadcast Journalism (11 months)

19

89%

89%

89%

89%

Interactive Journalism (weekend, 20 months)

22

86%

86%

86%

86%

Print Journalism (11 months)

18

94%

94%

94%

94%

Political Communication (two years)

5

80%

80%

80%

80%

Public Communication (11 months)

53

96%

94%

94%

94%

Public Communication (weekend program)

17

100%

100%

100%

100%

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

20

85%

95%

90%

N/A

Total

210

90%

90%

89%

N/A

Fall 2009 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2009 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2009 1-Year Retention + Grad Rate 2-Year Retention + Grad Rate 3-Year Retention + Grad Rate 4-Year Retention + Grad Rate

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

18

100%

94%

100%

100%

Film and Video (two years)

25

85%

78%

81%

63%

International Media (two years)

6

83%

67%

83%

67%

Broadcast Journalism (11 months)

19

100%

100%

100%

100%

Interactive Journalism (weekend, 20 months)

21

86%

81%

81%

81%

Print Journalism (11 months)

16

100%

100%

100%

100%

Public Communication (11 months)

60

97%

97%

97%

97%

Public Communication (weekend, 20 months)

19

100%

89%

89%

89%

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

20

85%

85%

70%

70%

Total

204

95%

92%

92%

90%

Graduate Graduation Rates

Rates are cumulative.

Fall 2017 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2008 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2017 1-Year Grad Rate 2-Year Grad Rate 3-Year Grad Rate 4-Year Grad Rate

 

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

12

N/A

N/A

91.70%

N/A

Film and Video (two years)

19

N/A

84.20%

  N/A

N/A

Global Media (two years)

6

N/A

83.30%

N/A

N/A

Journalism and Public Affairs

28

96.97%

N/A

N/A

N/A

Political Communication(two years)

17

N/A

88.20%

N/A

N/A

Strategic Communication (11 months)

35

97.10%

N/A

N/A

N/A

Strategic Communication (online)

24

85.2%

83.30%

N/A

N/A
Game Design (two years) 6 100% 100% N/A N/A

Jounalism & Digital Storytelling(weekend, 20 months)

11

N/A

63.60%

N/A

N/A

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

9

N/A

88.90%

  N/A

N/A

Total

179

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Fall 2016 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2008 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2016 1-Year Grad Rate 2-Year Grad Rate 3-Year Grad Rate 4-Year Grad Rate

 

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

11

N/A

N/A

90.90%

N/A

Film and Video (two years)

16

N/A

68.80%

  N/A

N/A

International Media (two years)

4

N/A

100%

N/A

N/A

Journalism and Public Affairs

28

91.1%

N/A

N/A

N/A

Interactive Journalism (weekend, 20 months)

7

N/A

57.1%

N/A

N/A

Political Communication (two years)

11

N/A

90.9%

N/A

N/A

Strategic Communication (11 months)

39

92.3%

N/A

N/A

N/A

Strategic Communication (online)

53

N/A

84.90%

N/A

N/A

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

10

N/A

100%

  N/A

N/A
Game Design 4 N/A 100% N/A N/A

Total

183

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Fall 2015 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2015 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2015 1-Year Grad Rate 2-Year Grad Rate 3-Year Grad Rate 4-Year Grad Rate

*Spring 2016 Clearance is ongoing. Grad rates usually include summer clearance, therefore this data is subject to change at the end of summer 2015.

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

18

N/A

N/A

83.3%

N/A

Film and Video (two years)

24

50%

67%

N/A

N/A

International Media (two years)

7

N/A

85.7%

N/A

N/A

Journalism and Public Affairs

31

90%

N/A

N/A

N/A

Interactive Journalism (weekend, 20 months)

17

*

76.5%

N/A

N/A

Political Communication (two years)

8

38%*

87.5%

N/A

N/A

Public Communication (11 months)

47

83%*

N/A

N/A

N/A

Public Communication (online)

47

76.6%*

70.2%

N/A

N/A

Public Communication (weekend, 20 months)

14

92.9%*

85.7%

N/A

N/A

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

20

95%*

65%

 N/A

N/A

Total

233

95%

92%

92%

90%

Fall 2014 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2014 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2014 1-Year Grad Rate 2-Year Grad Rate 3-Year Grad Rate 4-Year Grad Rate

*Spring 2015 Clearance is ongoing. Grad rates usually include summer clearance, therefore this data is subject to change at the end of summer 2015.

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

18

11%*

17%*

N/A

N/A

Film and Video (two years)

19

16%*

26%*

N/A

N/A

International Media (two years)

11

0%

36%*

N/A

N/A

Journalism and Public Affairs (two years)

27

96.2%

96.2%

N/A

N/A

Interactive Journalism (weekend, 20 months)

11

0%

91%

N/A

N/A

Political Communication (two years)

8

38%

75%

N/A

N/A

Public Communication (11 months)

44

77%

86%

N/A

N/A

Public Communication (weekend, 20 months)

17

0%

100%

N/A

N/A

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

9

88.9%

33.3%*

 N/A

N/A

Total

183

33%

71%

N/A

N/A

Fall 2013 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2013 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2013 1-Year Grad Rate 2-Year Grad Rate 3-Year Grad Rate 4-Year Grad Rate

*Spring 2015 Clearance is ongoing. Grad rates usually include summer clearance, therefore this data is subject to change at the end of summer 2015.

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

18

11%

17%

N/A

N/A

Film and Video (two years)

19

16%

26%

N/A

N/A

International Media (two years)

11

0%

36%

N/A

N/A

Journalism and Public Affairs (two years)

20

95%

95%

N/A

N/A

Interactive Journalism (weekend, 20 months)

11

0%

91%

N/A

N/A

Political Communication (two years)

8

38%

75%

N/A

N/A

Public Communication (11 months)

44

77%

86%

N/A

N/A

Public Communication (weekend, 20 months)

17

0%

100%

N/A

N/A

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

22

9%

64%

 N/A

N/A

Total

183

33%

71%

N/A

N/A

Fall 2012 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2012 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2012 1-Year Grad Rate 2-Year Grad Rate 3-Year Grad Rate 4-Year Grad Rate

*Spring 2015 Clearance is ongoing. Grad rates usually include summer clearance, therefore this data is subject to change at the end of summer 2015.

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

20

5%

35%

40%

N/A

Film and Video (two years)

25

0%

48%

52%

N/A

International Media (two years)

9

0%

67%

89%

N/A

Journalism and Public Affairs (two years)

35

95%

95%

95%

N/A

Interactive Journalism (weekend, 20 months)

12

0%

87%

87%

N/A

Political Communication (two years)

9

33%

89%

89%

N/A

Public Communication (11 months)

46

76%

91%

93%

N/A

Public Communication (weekend, 20 months)

21

0%

100%

100%

N/A

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

17

6%

82%

 88%

N/A

Total

210

40%

77%

81%

N/A

Fall 2011 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2011 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2011 1-Year Grad Rate 2-Year Grad Rate 3-Year Grad Rate 4-Year Grad Rate

*Spring 2015 Clearance is ongoing. Grad rates usually include summer clearance, therefore this data is subject to change at the end of summer 2015.

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

17

6%

6%

N/A

N/A

Film and Video (two years)

22

14%

23%

N/A

N/A

International Media (two years)

11

0%

55%

N/A

N/A

Broadcast Journalism (11 months)

12

81%

91%

91%

N/A

Interactive Journalism (weekend, 20 months)

17

0%

76%

N/A

N/A

Print Journalism (11 months)

11

100%

100%

100%

N/A

Political Communication (two years)

9

0%

89%

N/A

N/A

Public Communication (11 months)

55

72%

94%

N/A

N/A

Public Communication (weekend, 20 months)

18

0%

100%

N/A

N/A

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

18

0%

22%

 N/A

N/A

Total

187

36%

68%

N/A

N/A

Fall 2010 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2010 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2010 1-Year Grad Rate 2-Year Grad Rate 3-Year Grad Rate 4-Year Grad Rate

*Spring 2013 Clearance is ongoing. Grad rates usually include summer clearance, therefore this data is subject to change at the end of summer 2013.

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

21

24%

29%

38%

N/A

Film and Video (two years)

22

5%

36%

50%

N/A

International Media (two years)

11

0%

55%

82%

N/A

Broadcast Journalism (11 months)

19

89%

89%

89%

89%

Interactive Journalism (weekend, 20 months)

22

0%

86%

86%

86%

Print Journalism (11 months)

18

94%

94%

94%

94%

Political Communication (two years)

5

20%

60%

80%

N/A

Public Communication (11 months)

53

100%

100%

100%

100%

Public Communication (weekend, 20 months)

17

0%

95%

95%

100%

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

20

0%

85%

 90%

N/A

Total

210

40%

77%

81%

N/A

Fall 2009 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2009 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2009 1-Year Grad Rate 2-Year Grad Rate 3-Year Grad Rate 4-Year Grad Rate

*Spring 2013 Clearance is ongoing. Grad rates usually include summer clearance, therefore this data is subject to change at the end of summer 2013.

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

18

6%

39%

78%

94%

Film and Video (two years)

25

8%

28%

56%

56%

International Media (two years)

6

0%

50%

67%

67%

Broadcast Journalism (11 months)

19

100%

100%

100%

100%

Interactive Journalism (weekend, 20 months)

21

0%

86%

86%

86%

Print Journalism (11 months)

16

100%

100%

100%

100%

Public Communication (11 months)

60

82%

97%

97%

97%

Public Communication (weekend, 20 months)

19

0%

84%

89%

89%

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

20

10%

65%

 70%

70%

Total

204

44%

76%

85%

86%

Fall 2008 Entering Graduate Students

Fall 2008 Entering Graduate Students
Program Entering Fall 2008 1-Year Grad Rate 2-Year Grad Rate 3-Year Grad Rate 4-Year Grad Rate

*Spring 2013 Clearance is ongoing. Grad rates usually include summer clearance, therefore this data is subject to change at the end of summer 2013.

Film and Electronic Media (MFA, three years)

16

0%

0%

75%

81%

Film and Video (two years)

22

0%

32%

55%

59%

International Media (two years)

3

0%

100%

100%

100%

Broadcast Journalism (11 months)

10

70%

70%

70%

70%

Interactive Journalism (weekend, 20 months)

18

0%

83%

83%

83%

Print Journalism (11 months)

17

71%

82%

82%

82%

News Media Studies

4

0%

100%

100%

100%

Public Communication (11 months)

52

81%

88%

88%

88%

Public Communication (weekend, 20 months)

19

0%

89%

89%

89%

Producing for Film and Video (weekend, 20 months)

22

0%

77%

 77%

77%

Total

183

33%

71%

80%

82%

Journalism & Public Communication (Undergraduate)

ACEJMC Accredited Undergrad Programs: Additional Data

The charts below include additional information about journalism and public communication, the undergraduate SOC programs accredited by ACEJMC (Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication). The AU School of Communication is required by ACEJMC to make this specific information available to the public.

The two charts below only track students who declared as a journalism or public communication major at the point they originally enrolled in classes at AU, displaying the number of those original students who then continued and/or graduated as the same major they declared when originally enrolled. Students who changed their major are not counted in the retention or graduation numbers after they switched. Students who switched to journalism and public communication after first enrolling in classes are not included below.

The numbers represented in the charts below are small because a large number of AU students change or declare their major after first enrolling in classes. Additionally, many students start as an undecided major or undecided within the School of Communication. We encourage and assist students as they explore interests, abilities, and values. We guide students as they learn healthy goal setting and decision making techniques, which often lead to declaring or changing the academic major to better align their interests, abilities, values, and goals.

Full-Time Freshmen

Full-Time Freshmen
Entering Semester Number of Students Entering as Journalism Majors Number of Retained Declared Journalism Majors Number of Original Journalism Majors Graduating in Four Years as Journalism Major
Fall 2018 53 39 N/A
Fall 2017 60 42 N/A

Fall 2016

62

46

N/A

Fall 2015

77

51

55

Fall 2014

64

41

48

Fall 2013

65

40

N/A

Fall 2012

54

31

19

Fall 2011

59

32

18

Fall 2010

69

45

26

Fall 2009

73

48

29

Full-Time Freshmen

Full-Time Freshmen
Entering Semester Number of Students Entering as Public Communication Majors Number of Retained Declared Public Communication Majors Number of Original Public Communication Majors Graduating in Four Years as Public Communication Major
Fall 2018 31 25 N/A
Fall 2017 25 21 N/A

Fall 2016

33

28

N/A

Fall 2015

31

28

24

Fall 2014

27

25

23

Fall 2013

24

15

18

Fall 2012

18

14

10

Fall 2011

32

19

17

Fall 2010

10

6

4

Fall 2009

9

6

4