Communication & Media Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 9 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.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in communication & media studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 409 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $49,991 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Elon University, which ranked #2. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elon. Elon University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Elon University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Elon University earn a median of $48,637 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Elon University
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Greensboro. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 58 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. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
A rank of #4 makes University Of North Carolina At Asheville one of the top schools for communication & media studies. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Asheville. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Asheville awarded about 32 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Asheville earn a median of $27,682 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Asheville graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of North Carolina At Asheville
Barton College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #5. Set in the town of Wilson, Barton College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. About 10 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Barton College in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $43,301 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,122.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Barton College
North Carolina A And T State University landed the #6 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 121 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina A And T State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $28,985 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,643 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for North Carolina A And T State University
North Carolina Central University landed the #7 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. North Carolina Central University awarded about 38 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from North Carolina Central University generally make around $25,750. Students borrow a median of $29,662 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from North Carolina Central University
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke placed #8 among the best communication & media studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Pembroke. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn around $26,411 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,663.
Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of North Carolina At Pembroke
Winston Salem State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. Winston Salem State University graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 49 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Winston Salem State University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Winston Salem State University earn a median of $24,899 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,096.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Winston Salem State University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 9 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.
