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 18 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for communication & media studies students pursuing a degree.
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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.
No school ranked higher than Marist College this year for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Marist College graduates 80% of students within six years. Marist College awarded about 34 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data 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
A rank of #2 makes Syracuse University one of the top schools for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 15 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $36,767. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Syracuse University
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Stony Brook University, which ranked #3. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 37 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Stony Brook University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $60,047 in their early career. Stony Brook University graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Stony Brook University
A rank of #4 makes Pace University New York one of the top schools for communication & media studies. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 123 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Pace University New York in the most recent 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. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Pace University New York
State University Of New York At New Paltz is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #5. Set in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at State University Of New York At New Paltz in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from State University Of New York At New Paltz earn around $29,860 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,750.
See the full communication & media studies program report for State University Of New York At New Paltz
Hofstra University earned the #6 position for communication & media studies this year. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. Hofstra University graduates 68% of students 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. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Hofstra University earn a median of $39,782 early in their careers. Hofstra University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Hofstra University
Cuny Hunter College placed #7 among the best communication & media studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 153 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $29,054 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Cuny Hunter College
Hobart William Smith Colleges came in at #8 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Geneva, Hobart William Smith Colleges is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Hobart William Smith Colleges in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $50,750 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Hobart William Smith Colleges
Suny College At Oneonta ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public university. Suny College At Oneonta graduates 69% of students within six years. Suny College At Oneonta awarded about 21 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Suny College At Oneonta generally make around $27,973. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Suny College At Oneonta
Cuny Queens College placed #10 among the best communication & media studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Queens. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Cuny Queens College awarded about 46 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $31,918. Students borrow a median of $9,875 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Cuny Queens College
Nassau Community College placed #11 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. Nassau Community College awarded about 17 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $29,016 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Nassau Community College
The New School came in at #12 for communication & media studies this year. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 66 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at The New School in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $31,782 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,241 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from The New School
Vassar College came in at #13 for communication & media studies this year. Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Vassar College awarded about 18 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Vassar College generally make around $23,270. Vassar College graduates carry a median of $18,250 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Vassar College
Suny At Purchase College landed the #14 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. 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. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Suny At Purchase College earn a median of $31,881 early in their careers. Suny At Purchase College graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Suny At Purchase College
Cuny Lehman College landed the #15 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. Cuny Lehman College awarded about 49 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $32,484. Typical student debt for the program is $14,623.
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Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College landed the #16 spot for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College awarded about 52 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $26,437 in their early career. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College graduates carry a median of $8,643 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College
Lim College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Lim College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 31 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Lim College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $38,305 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,827.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Lim College
Iona College landed the #18 spot for communication & media studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of New Rochelle. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Iona College awarded about 52 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Iona College earn around $29,911 in the first couple years of their career. Iona College graduates carry a median of $26,954 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Iona College
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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 · 18 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.
