Communication & Media Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 38 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for communication & media studies students pursuing a degree.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall communication & media studies education in the Far Western Region.
Our analysis ranked University Of California Berkeley the best school in the country for a degree in communication & media studies. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 226 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $43,696 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,180 to complete this degree.
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San Diego State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #2. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. San Diego State University awarded about 16 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from San Diego State University earn around $44,130 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,675 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Bothell Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Washington Bothell Campus awarded about 75 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Washington Bothell Campus earn a median of $44,638 early in their careers. University Of Washington Bothell Campus graduates carry a median of $16,433 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at University Of San Francisco, which ranked #4. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 32 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $39,000. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of San Francisco
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public university. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 50 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $44,638 in their early career. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus graduates carry a median of $16,433 in student loans.
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Pomona College earned the #6 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Pomona College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Pomona College generally make around $75,954.
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Scripps College came in at #7 for communication & media studies this year. Scripps College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Scripps College in the most recent year.
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Washington State University came in at #8 for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Pullman. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 50 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Washington State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $50,300 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,903 to complete this degree.
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California State University San Marcos landed the #9 spot for communication & media studies this year. California State University San Marcos is a large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $36,310 in their early career. California State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from California State University San Marcos
University Of Oregon landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies this year. University Of Oregon is a very large public school located in the city of Eugene. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Oregon in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $33,165 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
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Pitzer College landed the #11 spot for communication & media studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Claremont. About 83% of students finish within six years. Pitzer College awarded about 14 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Pitzer College generally make around $40,668. Students borrow a median of $18,125 to complete this degree.
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Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System earned the #12 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Aliso Viejo, Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a large public institution. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System awarded about 10 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $65,898 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,471 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System
Azusa Pacific University placed #13 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Azusa Pacific University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn a median of $31,366 early in their careers. Azusa Pacific University graduates carry a median of $22,412 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Azusa Pacific University
California State University Los Angeles came in at #14 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. California State University Los Angeles graduates 53% of students within six years. California State University Los Angeles awarded about 10 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from California State University Los Angeles earn around $48,403 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,430.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from California State University Los Angeles
University Of Nevada Las Vegas landed the #15 spot for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Las Vegas. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Nevada Las Vegas awarded about 77 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Nevada Las Vegas generally make around $32,365. University Of Nevada Las Vegas graduates carry a median of $20,624 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Nevada Las Vegas
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 38 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
