Communication & Media Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best communication & media studies schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall communication & media studies education in the Southwest Region.
University Of Arizona is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in communication & media studies. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 12 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $42,993. Typical student debt for the program is $19,750.
Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Arizona
Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 24 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Oklahoma State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $50,993 in their early career. Oklahoma State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,337 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Arizona State University 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 Tempe. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 24 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Arizona State University earn around $56,309 in the first couple years of their career. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Arizona State University
Trinity University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #4. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Antonio. About 84% of students finish within six years. Trinity University awarded about 39 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $34,589 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,340.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Trinity University
Texas Tech University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 116 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $40,730 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Texas Tech University
Arizona State University Skysong earned the #6 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public institution. About 206 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $50,004 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Arizona State University Skysong
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #7 for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Marcos. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 79 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $43,500. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Texas State University San Marcos
Stephen F Austin State University earned the #8 position for communication & media studies this year. Stephen F Austin State University is a large public school located in the town of Nacogdoches. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Stephen F Austin State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Stephen F Austin State University generally make around $45,743. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Stephen F Austin State University
The University Of Texas At Tyler earned the #9 position for communication & media studies this year. The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 23 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Tyler in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from The University Of Texas At Tyler earn around $27,586 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,021.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from The University Of Texas At Tyler
Texas A And M University Texarkana ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Texarkana, Texas A And M University Texarkana is a mid-sized public university. About 30% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University Texarkana in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Texas A And M University Texarkana earn a median of $44,862 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,270 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Texas A And M University Texarkana
Sam Houston State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. About 55% of students finish within six years. Sam Houston State University awarded about 67 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $28,247. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Sam Houston State University
University Of Mary Hardin Baylor ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Belton, University Of Mary Hardin Baylor is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. University Of Mary Hardin Baylor graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mary Hardin Baylor in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Mary Hardin Baylor earn a median of $34,282 early in their careers. University Of Mary Hardin Baylor graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of Mary Hardin Baylor
The University Of Texas Pan American placed #13 among the best communication & media studies schools. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. The University Of Texas Pan American graduates 51% of students within six years. There were roughly 60 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas Pan American in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $26,748. Typical student debt for the program is $11,956.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at The University Of Texas Pan American
Texas Wesleyan University came in at #14 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 32% of students finish within six years. About 12 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Texas Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Texas Wesleyan University earn a median of $59,434 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,461 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Texas Wesleyan University
Midwestern State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Wichita Falls. Midwestern State University graduates 43% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Midwestern State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Midwestern State University earn around $25,728 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Midwestern State University
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Texas A And M University Corpus Christi is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. About 28 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University Corpus Christi in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Texas A And M University Corpus Christi generally make around $27,707. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Texas A And M University Corpus Christi
East Central University landed the #17 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Ada, East Central University is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. East Central University awarded about 10 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of East Central University earn a median of $24,638 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,571.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from East Central University
Texas Southern University earned the #18 position for communication & media studies this year. Texas Southern University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Houston. Texas Southern University graduates 22% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Texas Southern University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Texas Southern University earn a median of $33,963 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $38,783.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Texas Southern University
Narrow Communication & Media Studies Schools by State
More Communication & Media Studies Rankings
View All Communication & Media Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 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.
