Communication & Media Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their communication & media studies programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 33 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 Middle Atlantic Region.
No school ranked higher than West Chester University Of Pennsylvania this year for communication & media studies. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania graduates 70% of students within six years. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 73 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year.
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A rank of #2 makes American University one of the top schools for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 78 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from American University generally make around $52,640. Students borrow a median of $22,611 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes Marist College one of the top schools for communication & media studies. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 34 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Marist College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Marist College generally make around $41,818. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Marist College
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #4. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 159 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn around $39,051 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Syracuse University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Syracuse. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Syracuse University awarded about 15 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Syracuse University earn around $36,767 in the first couple years of their career. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Syracuse University
Stony Brook University landed the #6 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Stony Brook University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. Stony Brook University graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans.
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University Of Maryland Baltimore County ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Baltimore. University Of Maryland Baltimore County graduates 69% of students within six years. University Of Maryland Baltimore County awarded about 58 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of $30,737 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,389.
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Pace University New York ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pace University New York awarded about 123 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Pace University New York earn around $35,992 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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State University Of New York At New Paltz landed the #9 spot for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of New Paltz. State University Of New York At New Paltz graduates 72% of students within six years. About 23 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at State University Of New York At New Paltz in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of State University Of New York At New Paltz earn a median of $29,860 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 60 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn around $34,181 in the first couple years of their career. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,875 in student loans.
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Hofstra University landed the #11 spot for communication & media studies this year. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Hofstra University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $39,782. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Hofstra University
Washington College earned the #12 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Chestertown, Washington College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Washington College awarded about 10 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Washington College earn a median of $37,940 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,651 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Washington College
Cuny Hunter College landed the #13 spot for communication & media studies this year. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. About 153 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $29,054 in their early career. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Cuny Hunter College
Hobart William Smith Colleges ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Geneva. Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates 77% of students within six years. About 27 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Hobart William Smith Colleges in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Hobart William Smith Colleges earn around $50,750 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Hobart William Smith Colleges
Muhlenberg College came in at #15 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Allentown, Muhlenberg College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Muhlenberg College graduates 82% of students within six years. Muhlenberg College awarded about 30 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Muhlenberg College earn a median of $29,950 early in their careers. Muhlenberg College graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Muhlenberg College
Suny College At Oneonta placed #16 among the best communication & media studies schools. Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Oneonta. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 21 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Oneonta in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Suny College At Oneonta earn a median of $27,973 early in their careers. Suny College At Oneonta graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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Catholic University Of America ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Catholic University Of America in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $43,259 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Catholic University Of America
Temple University earned the #18 position for communication & media studies this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 102 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Temple University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Temple University earn around $34,496 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,880 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Temple University
Cuny Queens College placed #19 among the best communication & media studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Queens. Cuny Queens College graduates 53% of students within six years. About 46 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Queens College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $31,918. Cuny Queens College graduates carry a median of $9,875 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Cuny Queens College
Nassau Community College landed the #20 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. About 17 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Nassau Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $29,016 in their early career. Nassau Community College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
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The New School placed #21 among the best communication & media studies schools. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 66 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at The New School in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of The New School earn a median of $31,782 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,241 to complete this degree.
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Vassar College earned the #22 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 18 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Vassar College in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Vassar College earn a median of $23,270 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,250.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Vassar College
Suny At Purchase College placed #23 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Suny At Purchase College awarded about 11 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Suny At Purchase College generally make around $31,881. Suny At Purchase College graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
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Cuny Lehman College placed #24 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 49 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Lehman College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $32,484. Cuny Lehman College graduates carry a median of $14,623 in student loans.
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Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College came in at #25 for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. There were roughly 52 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College generally make around $26,437. Students borrow a median of $8,643 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communication & media studies ranking:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 33 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.
