Communication & Media Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best communication & media studies schools.
What’s on this page:
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.
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 school for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 39 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $37,808 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Illinois State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. 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.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Illinois State University
Depaul University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Depaul University graduates 68% of students 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. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $40,421 early in their careers. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $22,916 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Depaul University
A rank of #4 makes Southern Illinois University Edwardsville one of the top schools for communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates 55% of students within six years. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 67 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $36,569 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,759.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Governors State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 21%. There were roughly 11 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Governors State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $27,071 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,340.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Governors State University
Olivet Nazarene University placed #6 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Olivet Nazarene University graduates 61% of students within six years. Olivet Nazarene University awarded about 12 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $23,259. Olivet Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Olivet Nazarene University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 6 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.
