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Doctorate in Communication

With one of the nation's premier doctoral programs in Communication, the Annenberg School is a tight-knit, supportive community of scholars committed to advancing knowledge of our media environment.

Founded through the generosity and vision of publisher, diplomat, and philanthropist Walter Annenberg, the Annenberg School for Communication is devoted to furthering our understanding of the role of communication in public life through research, education, and service. Our five-year doctoral program has a strong reputation as one of the best in Communication, based on Annenberg’s unparalleled combination of world-class faculty, students, and alumni, as well as access to the larger intellectual and cultural resources of the University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia.

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In an inherently interdisciplinary field, Annenberg researchers are engaged with a spectrum of topics related to health, politics, media systems, networks and digital culture, journalism, race and gender, and more, using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

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Our Ph.D. program allows students to tailor a curriculum to suit their specific interests, and provides them the financial resources to launch their academic career. 

In addition to a full tuition waiver, our students currently receive an annual stipend as well as a budget for research and travel and health insurance for all five years.

Annenberg is the smallest of the 12 schools at Penn, and it functions as close-knit community of scholars whose doors are always open to one another. Our students also appreciate our staff, who routinely go above and beyond to support them.

Please note that we do not have a standalone master’s degree program at this time. All students are admitted directly into the doctoral program.

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Our Students By the Numbers

Here are some fast facts about our students and the admissions process.
Get to know Annenberg!

71

Students currently in the program

16

Different nationalities represented by our students

250+

Applicants Each Year

12-17

Students accepted each year

3.76

Average undergraduate GPA of applicants

110

Average TOEFL of admitted candidates

35%

Of students came from a previous graduate degree program

30%

Of students worked in a career before joining Annenberg

35%

Of students came straight to Annenberg from an undergraduate degree

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Our Faculty

Our graduate faculty is at the heart of the school. Their innovative work, often in collaboration with students, pushes the field of Communication forward.

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Explore the Program

Learn more about life in the Annenberg Ph.D. program.

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Applications for 2025-2026 will open by October