About the Miller School
At the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications you'll find experienced instructors dedicated to preparing students to compete in the exciting, ever-changing field of journalism and mass communications.
Located on the campus of Kansas State University, we provide students with a relaxed environment rich with resources, hands-on experience and opportunities for the future.
Mission statement
- Pursue knowledge through creative works, research and innovative teaching.
- Encourage professional competencies, critical thinking, ethical decision-making and social responsibility.
- Serve our constituents as defenders of free expression in a dynamic, multicultural society.
AEJMC national accreditation
The nationally accredited program — one of the oldest in the nation — began in 1910 and now has more than 4,600 alumni worldwide. The A.Q. Miller School offers specific sequences in print and electronic journalism, public relations, and advertising.
What that means to you, as a student, is that the Miller School has undergone rigorous review of its curriculum, equipment, facilities, and faculty and has been determined to meet a high standard of quality education. Accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication gives the Miller School national prominence and recognition that means something to potential employers. In short, your degree will have the strength of a national reputation behind it to open doors in communication organizations and businesses.
Students can enroll in their major courses early in their university experience, giving them the opportunity to advance as skilled creators and consumers of information.
Looking to the future
A career in journalism or mass communications requires knowledge of the latest trends in the industry, and the Media Convergence Center in Dole Hall is just one tool we use in our curriculum to provide our students real-world training.
In 2013, the A.Q. Miller School outlined its mission and plans (PDF) for contributing to achieving the university’s and the college's vision for K-State 2025.
JMC Facts
The A. Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications is now in its second century of training media and strategic communications professionals. Our alumni are everywhere, and our programs continue to grow and expand as we continue to meet the demands of a dynamic media industry.
Here are some “quick facts” about our program:
- The A.Q. Miller School is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, most recently earning reaccreditation in May 2014.
- K-State’s first journalism curriculum in 1910 was called “industrial journalism” and featured classes in reporting, editing and writing to support existing programs in agriculture, home economics and business.
- A.Q. Miller School students can launch their careers from their first day on campus, working in award-winning student media operations, including the Collegian, Manhappenin’ Magazine, the Royal Purple yearbook, KSDB-FM 91.9, and our broadcast television station, KKSU-TV Channel 21.
- The A.Q. Miller School’s new “Job Ready” program provides students with special training leading to easier entry into the media and strategic communications job market.
- Students can choose to major in Journalism, which includes legacy media platforms (newspaper, radio, television and magazines) and digital media distribution, and Strategic Communications, which includes advertising and public relations professions.
- The A.Q. Miller School’s Master of Science in Mass Communications includes specialization in community media, strategic communications, risk and reputation management, and health communication. Our online degree is focused in strategic communications, and features opportunities for working professionals to earn credits on the job.
- Advertising Club, Public Relations Student Society of America, Diverse Mass Communicators, and the Society of Professional Journalists are organizations for JMC students at K-State.
- A.Q. Miller School faculty members provide hands-on experience and incorporate their research into the classes they teach.
- The A.Q. Miller School houses the national Journalism Education Association and the Huck Boyd National Center for Community Media.
- Famous A.Q. Miller School alumni include White House Photographer Pete Souza, former Presidential Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater, WKRP in Cincinnati star Gordon Jump and 1950s rock and roll record producer Jerry Wexler, who coined the phrase “rhythm and blues.”
A.Q. Miller School Retention Rates
A. Q. Miller School faculty members value their relationships with students. Of course, not every student who enters our program will remain a JMC major. But our goal is to provide a friendly, supportive atmosphere, excellent instruction and quality student advising. Over the past five years, we have invested heavily in our efforts to improve our student retention, as evidenced in our retention statistics:
| First Year | Second Year | Third Year | Fourth Year | Fifth Year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entering class | KSU | JMC | KSU | JMC | KSU | JMC | KSU | JMC | KSU | JMC |
| Fall 2010 | 81.8% | 78.5% | 74.4% | 69.9% | 70.1% | 62.4% | 37.4% | 23.7% | 8.9% | 5.4% |
| Fall 2011 | 80.3% | 86.4% | 73.1% | 75.8% | 68.5% | 72.7% | 34.6% | 25.8% | 8.2% | 3.0% |
| Fall 2012 | 81.2% | 88.6% | 73.6% | 84.1% | 68.5% | 81.8% | 34.2% | 30.7% | 7.7% | 5.7% |
| Fall 2013 | 83.3% | 86.5% | 75.5% | 78.9% | 70.7% | 76.0% | 32.4% | 16.4% | 7.1% | 1.0% |
| Fall 2014 | 83.5% | 81.5% | 76.8% | 69.1% | 71.6% | 60.5% | 30.6% | 16.0% | ||
| Fall 2015 | 85.1% | 82.9% | 76.8% | 73.2% | 71.3% | 63.4% | ||||
| Fall 2016 | 84.3% | 86.6% | 76.7% | 80.6% | ||||||
| Fall 2017 | 85.5% | 82.5% | ||||||||
- Retention rates show the percentage of new, degree-seeking freshmen who continue to enroll at Kansas State University or within the School of Journalism and Mass Communications in subsequent fall semesters after they begin coursework.
- Percentages include those with primary majors within the A. Q. Miller School (both majors and pre-majors).
A.Q. Miller School Graduation Rates
The goal, of course, is to ensure that our students advance through our program in a timely manner towards graduation. Students who join our program as freshmen and who take their courses as prescribed can easily graduate in four years. But we do find that many students take longer than four years to complete their degrees, as evidenced by recent graduation data.
| Third Year | Fourth Year | Fifth Year | Sixth Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entering Class | KSU | JMC | KSU | JMC | KSU | JMC | KSU | JMC |
| Fall 2010 | 0.9% | 2.2% | 31.0% | 34.4% | 57.2% | 49.5% | 62.8% | 52.7% |
| Fall 2011 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 32.6% | 43.9% | 57.5% | 62.1% | 62.8% | 65.2% |
| Fall 2012 | 1.7% | 2.3% | 33.8% | 45.5% | 58.1% | 70.5% | 63.9% | 78.4% |
| Fall 2013 | 1.5% | 1.0% | 36.6% | 56.7% | 60.1% | 70.2% | ||
| Fall 2014 | 1.8% | 6.2% | 30.6% | 49.4% | ||||
| Fall 2015 | 1.8% | 6.1% | ||||||
- Graduation rates show the percentage of new, degree-seeking freshmen who enroll within the School of Journalism and Mass Communications or Kansas State University and eventually graduate. JMC numbers do not reflect graduation rates of students who transfer into the major from another institution or from another department at Kansas State University.
- Percentages include those with primary majors within the A.Q. Miller School (both majors and pre-majors).
A.Q. Miller School Undergraduate Enrollment
Our student media operations and professional organizations, coupled with the reputation of our faculty and the overall atmosphere of our School, have resulted in a growth in the number of majors, as evidenced by our five-year enrollment figures. Enrollment rates include full-time and part-time, degree-seeking students who have listed JMC as their primary major.
| Fall 2010 | Fall 2011 | Fall 2012 | Fall 2013 | Fall 2014 | Fall 2015 | Fall 2016 | Fall 2017 | Fall 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-major | 286 | 273 | 361 | 338 | 328 | 298 | 181 | 160 | 89 |
| Advertising | 48 | 40 | 42 | 61 | 43 | 42 | 61 | 59 | 76 |
| Journalism/Print | 22 | 21 | 16 | 24 | 22 | 17 | 64 | 58 | 27 |
| Journalism/Electronic | 43 | 33 | 34 | 41 | 57 | 46 | 30 | 20 | 74 |
| Public Relations | 82 | 70 | 77 | 111 | 112 | 102 | 128 | 105 | 97 |
| Total | 481 | 437 | 530 | 575 | 562 | 505 | 464 | 402 | 363 |
A.Q. Miller School Diversity
A.Q. Miller School students come from varied backgrounds, and while most of our students are Kansans, we find that students from across the United States and around the world are increasingly coming to Manhattan to study with us. Here is a breakdown of the ethnic origins of our student body, accounting for full-time and part-time, degree-seeking students who have listed JMC as their primary major:
| Fall 2010 | Fall 2011 | Fall 2012 | Fall 2013 | Fall 2014 | Fall 2015 | Fall 2016 | Fall 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaskan Native | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Asian | 3 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Black/African American | 24 | 26 | 35 | 41 | 45 | 44 | 31 | 27 |
| Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hispanic/Latino | 21 | 23 | 28 | 37 | 37 | 45 | 42 | 35 |
| Multi-racial | 9 | 9 | 19 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 6 |
| Not specified | 4 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Non-resident alien | 18 | 22 | 25 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 15 |
| White | 398 | 338 | 404 | 444 | 431 | 381 | 359 | 313 |
| Total | 481 | 437 | 530 | 575 | 562 | 505 | 464 | 402 |
A.Q. Miller School Scholarships
The A.Q. Miller School is blessed with a large and loyal alumni base. Many of our graduates have made generous contributions to JMC Scholarship Fund, as evidenced by our scholarship awards over the past three years:
| Undergraduate Scholarships | 2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 | 2015-2016 | 2016-2017 | 2017-2018 | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Amount Awarded | $92,575 | $195,150 | $180,750 | $267,300 | $242,432 | $182,950 | $151,600 | $203,400 |
| Number of Scholarships Awarded | 72 | 104 | 119 | 137 | 158 | 151 | 57 | 113 |
- Some students receive two or three scholarships from the A.Q. Miller School in a single academic year.
A.Q. Miller School Internships
One of the hallmarks of our curriculum is our long-established internship program. A.Q. Miller School interns have worked in and developed contacts in media and strategic communications firms in markets large and small across the country and in several countries around the world.
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 14 | 45 | 19 | 78 |
| 2011 | 19 | 34 | 20 | 73 |
| 2012 | 22 | 29 | 22 | 73 |
| 2013 | 19 | 54 | 23 | 96 |
| 2014 | 30 | 47 | 37 | 114 |
| 2015 | 24 | 35 | 39 | 98 |
| 2016 | 21 | 46 | 38 | 105 |
| 2017 | 26 | 33 | 36 | 95 |
| 2018 | 19 | 28 | 42 | 89 |
| 2019 | 21 |
A.Q. Miller School Placement
Our media operations, internships, international education opportunities and career advising are all designed to help our students get the jobs in this field when they graduate. Most of our graduates find employment, and most of them are employed in media-related professions:
| Percentage Employed | Starting Salary of Employed | Percentage Continuing Education | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Graduates | 72% | $30,276 | 11% |
| 2011 Graduates | 75% | $30,716 | 12% |
| 2012 Graduates | 81% | $32,781 | 9% |
| 2013 Graduates | 83% | $30,178 | 9% |
| 2014 Graduates | 84% | $32,691 | 8% |
| 2015 Graduates | 86% | 9% | |
| 2016 Graduates | 87% | $35,408 | 10% |
| 2017 Graduates | 90% | $34,673 | 6% |
| 2018 Graduates | 91% | $38,223 | 8% |
