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2024 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

123 Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region
10,019 Communications Degrees Awarded
$32,771 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you pursue a degree in communication & media studies, you won't be alone. The field of study is the #10 most popular program in the country. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.

College Factual looked at 123 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 10,019 degrees in communication & media studies during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Communication & Media Studies School

Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region The communications program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Communication & Media Studies rankings. We derive our Best Overall Communication & Media Studies School rankings by rolling up our degree-level rankings after weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each school.

You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.

Communication & Media Studies Rankings by Degree Level

Associate Degrees in Communications
Bachelor's Degrees in Communications
Master's Degrees in Communications
Doctor's Degrees in Communications

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list, to help you choose the best school for you. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.

To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Read more about College Factual's methodology.

Best Schools for Communication & Media Studies in the Middle Atlantic Region

If you aren't interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the communications degrees they offer, see the list below. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

18 Top Middle Atlantic Region Schools in Communications

1
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
96 Communications Degrees Awarded
$50,120 Median Starting Salary

Every student pursuing a degree in communication & media studies needs to take a look at University of Pennsylvania. Located in the large city of Philadelphia, UPenn is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #4 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UPenn is a great university overall.

There were roughly 96 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at UPenn in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the communication & media studies degree program at University of Pennsylvania earn $17,349 above the standard graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University of Pennsylvania

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
92 Communications Degrees Awarded
$95,483 Median Starting Salary

Every student pursuing a degree in communication & media studies has to take a look at Columbia University in the City of New York. Located in the large city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #14 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Columbia is a great university overall.

There were roughly 92 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Columbia in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies degree recipients from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a boost of about $62,712 over the average earnings of communication & media studies graduates.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Columbia University in the City of New York

3
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
151 Communications Degrees Awarded
15.2% Growth in Graduates

Johns Hopkins University is a great decision for students interested in a degree in communication & media studies. Johns Hopkins is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Baltimore. A Best Colleges rank of #23 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Johns Hopkins is a great university overall.

There were roughly 151 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins in the most recent data year. Those communication & media studies students who get their degree from Johns Hopkins University receive $41,459 more than the average communications graduate.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Johns Hopkins University

4
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
99 Communications Degrees Awarded
$44,071 Median Starting Salary

Cornell University is a wonderful decision for students interested in a degree in communication & media studies. Cornell is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Ithaca. A Best Colleges rank of #22 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Cornell is a great university overall.

There were roughly 99 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Cornell in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the communication & media studies major at Cornell University get $11,300 more than the typical college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Cornell University

5
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
289 Communications Degrees Awarded
$41,724 Median Starting Salary

UMCP is a fairly large public university located in the large suburb of College Park. A Best Colleges rank of #42 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UMCP is a great university overall.

There were about 289 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at UMCP in the most recent year we have data available. Those communication & media studies students who get their degree from University of Maryland - College Park make $8,953 more than the typical communications grad.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University of Maryland - College Park

6
Villanova crest
Villanova University
Villanova, PA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
158 Communications Degrees Awarded
$42,160 Median Starting Salary

Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #70 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Villanova is a great university overall.

There were about 158 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Villanova in the most recent data year. Those communication & media studies students who get their degree from Villanova University make $9,389 more than the standard communications grad.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Villanova University

7
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
175 Communications Degrees Awarded
17.1% Growth in Graduates

UD is a fairly large public university located in the large suburb of Newark. A Best Colleges rank of #118 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UD is a great university overall.

There were approximately 175 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at UD in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the communication & media studies program at University of Delaware earn $8,966 more than the typical college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University of Delaware

8
Syracuse crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
130 Communications Degrees Awarded
$37,905 Median Starting Salary

Syracuse is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Syracuse. This university ranks 12th out of 142 colleges for overall quality in the state of New York.

There were roughly 130 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies degree recipients from Syracuse University earn a boost of around $5,134 over the average income of communication & media studies graduates.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Syracuse University

9
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
47 Communications Degrees Awarded
14.9% Growth in Graduates

GWU is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Washington. A Best Colleges rank of #49 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means GWU is a great university overall.

There were approximately 47 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at GWU in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the communication & media studies program at George Washington University get $12,750 above the average graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from George Washington University

10
The American University crest
American University
Washington, DC
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
100 Communications Degrees Awarded
$51,056 Median Starting Salary

The American University is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Washington. A Best Colleges rank of #129 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means The American University is a great university overall.

There were about 100 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at The American University in the most recent year we have data available. Communication & Media Studies degree recipients from American University receive an earnings boost of about $18,284 over the average income of communication & media studies majors.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from American University

11
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
135 Communications Degrees Awarded
8.1% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham U is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #109 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Fordham U is a great university overall.

There were about 135 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Fordham U in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies degree recipients from Fordham University get an earnings boost of about $9,442 above the average income of communication & media studies majors.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Fordham University

12
Marist crest
Marist College
Poughkeepsie, NY
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
204 Communications Degrees Awarded
5.9% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population. This college ranks 30th out of 142 schools for overall quality in the state of New York.

There were approximately 204 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Marist in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies degree recipients from Marist College receive an earnings boost of about $7,176 above the typical earnings of communication & media studies majors.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Marist College

13
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
312 Communications Degrees Awarded
$41,337 Median Starting Salary

Rutgers New Brunswick is a very large public university located in the city of New Brunswick. A Best Colleges rank of #98 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Rutgers New Brunswick is a great university overall.

There were about 312 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies degree recipients from Rutgers University - New Brunswick receive an earnings boost of around $8,566 over the average earnings of communication & media studies graduates.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Rutgers University - New Brunswick

14
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
362 Communications Degrees Awarded
$34,834 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large suburb of Buffalo, University at Buffalo is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 23rd out of 142 colleges for overall quality in the state of New York.

There were roughly 362 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University at Buffalo in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies degree recipients from University at Buffalo earn a boost of around $2,063 over the average earnings of communication & media studies majors.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University at Buffalo

15
Temple crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
103 Communications Degrees Awarded
$32,400 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large city of Philadelphia, Temple is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 11th out of 109 colleges for overall quality in the state of Pennsylvania.

There were roughly 103 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Temple in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the communications program report average early career earnings of $32,400.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Temple University

16
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
171 Communications Degrees Awarded
1.8% Growth in Graduates

Montclair State is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Montclair. This university ranks 8th out of 44 colleges for overall quality in the state of New Jersey.

There were approximately 171 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Montclair State in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the communications program report average early career wages of $34,223.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Montclair State University

17
Hunter crest
Hunter College
New York, NY
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
164 Communications Degrees Awarded
$32,241 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large city of New York, Hunter is a public college with a fairly large student population. This college ranks 19th out of 142 colleges for overall quality in the state of New York.

There were approximately 164 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Hunter in the most recent data year. Soon after graduating, communications degree recipients generally earn an average of $32,241 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Hunter College

18
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
52 Communications Degrees Awarded
34.6% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of New York, The Graduate Center is a public school with a medium-sized student population. This school ranks 14th out of 142 colleges for overall quality in the state of New York.

There were approximately 52 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at The Graduate Center in the most recent year we have data available. Those communication & media studies students who get their degree from The Graduate Center, CUNY make $18,546 more than the average communications student.

More information about a degree in communication & media studies from The Graduate Center, CUNY

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for Communication & Media Studies students in the Middle Atlantic Region that almost earned our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region award.

Rank College Location
19 Muhlenberg College Allentown, PA
20 Towson University Towson, MD
21 Rowan University Glassboro, NJ
22 University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA
23 Loyola University Maryland Baltimore, MD
24 University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MD
25 Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, PA

Best Communication & Media Studies Colleges by State

Explore the best communication & media studies colleges for a specific state in the Middle Atlantic Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Pennsylvania 334 2,216
New York 333 4,476
Maryland 279 1,272
New Jersey 273 1,538
District of Columbia 188 200
Delaware 175 239

View All Rankings >

Communication & Media Studies is one of 5 different types of Communication & Journalism programs to choose from.

Communications Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Speech Communication 5,538
Communication & Media Studies 2,092
Communications 1,735
Other Communication & Media Studies 654

View All Communications Focus Areas >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Public Relations & Advertising 3,826
Radio, Television & Digital Communication 3,674
Journalism 2,284
Communication & Journalism (Other) 357
Publishing 173

View All Communications Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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