Communication & Media Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 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.
Our analysis ranked University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill the best school in the country for a degree in communication & media studies. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 359 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $49,991 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Elon University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Elon University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $48,637 in their early career. Elon University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Elon University
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates 56% of students within six years. About 71 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $30,559 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Asheville. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Asheville in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $27,682 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Asheville graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans.
Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of North Carolina At Asheville
North Carolina A And T State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. North Carolina A And T State University is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Carolina A And T State University awarded about 108 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $28,985 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,643.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from North Carolina A And T State University
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earned the #6 position for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Pembroke. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke graduates 44% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke awarded about 33 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $26,411 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,663.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke
North Carolina Central University landed the #7 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public university. North Carolina Central University graduates 42% of students within six years. North Carolina Central University awarded about 39 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from North Carolina Central University earn around $25,750 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,662.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at North Carolina Central University
Winston Salem State University landed the #8 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. Winston Salem State University awarded about 33 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Winston Salem State University generally make around $24,899. Typical student debt for the program is $27,096.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Winston Salem State University
Johnson C Smith University landed the #9 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, Johnson C Smith University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Johnson C Smith University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Johnson C Smith University earn a median of $26,090 early in their careers. Johnson C Smith University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Johnson C Smith University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 12 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.
