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2023 Most Popular Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies

71 Ranked Colleges
856 Degrees Awarded
$29,300 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master's

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 10,266 people earned their degree in communication and media studies, making the major the 82nd most popular in the United States.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 856 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s” ranking, we looked at 71 colleges that offer a degree in communication and media studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular communication and media studies programs in the United States.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s”.

1
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

Out of the 71 schools in the Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Florida is a large school located in Gainesville, Florida that handed out 129 masters’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Florida Communication & Media Studies Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Florida International University. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s. FIU is located in Miami, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 111 masters’s media studies degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Florida International University

3
The American University crest
American University
Washington, District of Columbia

Out of the 71 schools in the Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, American University landed the #3 spot on the list. American University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Washington, District of Columbia. It awarded 71 masters’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full American University Communication & Media Studies Report

4
Texas Tech crest
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas

Out of the 71 schools in the Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas Tech University landed the #4 spot on the list. Texas Tech is a public institution located in Lubbock, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 55 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Texas Tech

5
Wazzu crest
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington

Out of the 71 schools in the Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington State University landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Pullman, Washington, and it awarded 41 masters’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Wazzu

6
Austin Peay State University crest
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, Tennessee

With a ranking of #6, Austin Peay State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s list. Austin Peay State University is located in Clarksville, Tennessee and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 masters’s media studies degrees to qualified students.

Full Austin Peay State University Communication & Media Studies Report

7

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s list. Knoxville, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s media studies degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UT Knoxville

8

Arizona State University - Skysong came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s ranking. ASU - Skysong is located in Scottsdale, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 masters’s media studies degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Arizona State University - Skysong

8
Sacred Heart crest
Sacred Heart University
Fairfield, Connecticut

Sacred Heart University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s ranking. Fairfield, Connecticut is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s media studies degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Sacred Heart

10

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s ranking. This large school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 20 masters’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Communication & Media Studies Report

11

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s ranking. OSU is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 masters’s media studies degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

11
Hunter crest
Hunter College
New York, New York

Hunter College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #11. Hunter College is a large public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 17 masters’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Hunter Communication & Media Studies Report

13
Pace University crest
Pace University - New York
New York, New York

Pace University - New York came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s ranking. Pace University - New York is a fairly large school located in New York, New York that handed out 16 masters’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Pace University - New York Communication & Media Studies Report

13

University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s list. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s media studies degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of South Florida - Main Campus Communication & Media Studies Report

15

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and it awarded 15 masters’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

15

University of the Incarnate Word ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s list. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s media studies degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of the Incarnate Word

17
ETSU crest
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, Tennessee

East Tennessee State University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s ranking. East Tennessee State University is located in Johnson City, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 masters’s media studies degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at ETSU

18
Murray State crest
Murray State University
Murray, Kentucky

Murray State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #18. Murray, Kentucky is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s media studies degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Murray State

18
QC crest
Queens College
Queens, New York

Queens College ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s list. Located in Queens, New York, this fairly large public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified masters’s media studies students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at QC

20

With a ranking of #20, Brigham Young University - Provo did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s list. This large school is located in Provo, Utah, and it awarded 11 masters’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full BYU Communication & Media Studies Report

21

Stephen F Austin State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s ranking. Located in Nacogdoches, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified masters’s media studies students in 2020-2021.

Full Stephen F Austin State University Communication & Media Studies Report

21

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania ranked #21 on this year’s Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s list. Edinboro is a small school located in Edinboro, Pennsylvania that handed out 10 masters’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

23

Clarion University of Pennsylvania landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s ranking. Clarion University of Pennsylvania is a public institution located in Clarion, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Clarion University Communication & Media Studies Report

23

Rochester Institute of Technology landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s ranking. This fairly large school is located in Rochester, New York, and it awarded 9 masters’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at RIT

23
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

With a ranking of #23, South Dakota State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s list. South Dakota State is a public institution located in Brookings, South Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at South Dakota State University

23

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Media Studies Major for a Master’s ranking. IU Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 9 masters’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Indiana University - Bloomington

Notes and References

References

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