Communication & Media Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their communication & media studies programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 12 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 South Carolina.
Our analysis ranked University Of South Carolina Columbia the best school in the country for a degree in communication & media studies. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates 79% of students within six years. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 97 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of South Carolina Columbia earn around $35,586 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree.
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Winthrop University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 22 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Winthrop University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Winthrop University generally make around $35,198. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Lander University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Greenwood, Lander University is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lander University awarded about 15 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Lander University generally make around $25,271. Lander University graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Claflin University, which ranked #4. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Orangeburg. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Claflin University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Claflin University earn a median of $23,156 early in their careers. Claflin University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Benedict College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Columbia, Benedict College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 24% of students finish within six years. Benedict College awarded about 17 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $25,769 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $37,311.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Benedict College
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, 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.
