Communication & Media Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 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.
Marist College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 32 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. Marist College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Pace University New York, which ranked #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Pace University New York graduates 60% of students within six years. About 116 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Pace University New York in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $35,992 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full communication & media studies program report for 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 #3. Located in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public university. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at State University Of New York At New Paltz in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from State University Of New York At New Paltz generally make around $29,860. Typical student debt for the program is $22,750.
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A rank of #4 makes Stony Brook University one of the top schools for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. Stony Brook University graduates 76% of students within six years. About 25 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Stony Brook University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $60,047. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Hofstra University, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Hofstra University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Hofstra University earn around $39,782 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Clarkson University landed the #6 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Potsdam, Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. Clarkson University awarded about 13 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Clarkson University earn a median of $41,745 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,566 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Hunter College came in at #7 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 134 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $29,054. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Cuny Hunter College
The New School ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. 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%. The New School awarded about 63 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $31,782 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,241.
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Hobart William Smith Colleges came in at #9 for communication & media studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Geneva. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 33 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Hobart William Smith Colleges in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Hobart William Smith Colleges generally make around $50,750. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Queens College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Cuny Queens College is a very large public school located in the city of Queens. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Cuny Queens College awarded about 69 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $31,918 early in their careers. Cuny Queens College graduates carry a median of $9,875 in student loans.
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Suny College At Oneonta earned the #11 position for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Oneonta. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 37 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Suny College At Oneonta in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $27,973 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Suny At Purchase College came in at #12 for communication & media studies this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Purchase. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Suny At Purchase College awarded about 18 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. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
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Nassau Community College came in at #13 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. Nassau Community College awarded about 20 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Nassau Community College earn around $29,016 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Nassau Community College
Iona College placed #14 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of New Rochelle, Iona College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 36 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Iona College in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Iona College earn around $29,911 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,954 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public university. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College awarded about 45 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.
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Cuny Lehman College placed #16 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 54 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Lehman College in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $32,484 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,623.
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Lim College came in at #17 for communication & media studies this year. Lim College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Lim College awarded about 19 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Lim College earn a median of $38,305 early in their careers. Lim College graduates carry a median of $26,827 in student loans.
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Vassar College earned the #18 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Vassar College graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Vassar College in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Vassar College earn a median of $23,270 early in their careers. Vassar College graduates carry a median of $18,250 in student loans.
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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 · 30 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.
