Communication & Media Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their communication & media studies programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools to find the best for communication & media studies students.
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If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the communication & media studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in communication & media studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 39 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $37,808 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
A rank of #2 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the top schools for communication & media studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. About 491 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $36,700 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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A rank of #3 makes Illinois State University one of the top schools for communication & media studies. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 47 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Illinois State University earn around $41,670 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $20,125 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Miami University Oxford, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the town of Oxford. Miami University Oxford graduates 80% of students within six years. About 56 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Miami University Oxford in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Miami University Oxford earn around $34,959 in the first couple years of their career. Miami University Oxford graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Miami University Oxford
A rank of #5 makes Denison University one of the top schools for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 50 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Denison University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Denison University earn around $47,396 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,187 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Denison University
Michigan State University landed the #6 spot for communication & media studies this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. Michigan State University awarded about 27 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $36,390 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,750.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #7 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $39,953 in their early career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,869 in student loans.
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Depaul University came in at #8 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 105 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Depaul University earn around $40,421 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,916 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Depaul University
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #9 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 21 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $36,666. Students borrow a median of $24,063 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Ohio University Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater came in at #10 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates 63% of students within six years. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn a median of $39,367 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #11 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 67 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn around $36,569 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,759 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee awarded about 60 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $38,040 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Saint Norbert College landed the #13 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of De Pere, Saint Norbert College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Saint Norbert College graduates 72% of students within six years. Saint Norbert College awarded about 15 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Saint Norbert College earn a median of $38,287 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,262.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Saint Norbert College
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earned the #14 position for communication & media studies this year. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $35,724 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,990.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Governors State University earned the #15 position for communication & media studies this year. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. About 21% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Governors State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Governors State University earn around $27,071 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,340 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Governors State University
Indiana State University came in at #16 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 43% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Indiana State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $34,213 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Indiana State University
Olivet Nazarene University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 12 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Olivet Nazarene University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $23,259 in their early career. Olivet Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Rochester College came in at #18 for communication & media studies this year. Rochester College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. About 43% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Rochester College in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Rochester College earn a median of $36,051 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,166.
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Indiana University Southeast earned the #19 position for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of New Albany. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. Indiana University Southeast awarded about 11 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Indiana University Southeast earn a median of $26,777 early in their careers. Indiana University Southeast graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 19 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.
