Communication & Media Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their communication & media studies programs.
College Factual analyzed 41 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best communication & media studies schools.
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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 Minnesota Twin Cities tops our 2026 ranking of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 24 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $56,395. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at University Of Mary, which ranked #2. University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Bismarck. University Of Mary graduates 67% of students within six years. About 17 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Mary in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Mary earn a median of $65,565 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,983.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of Mary
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Concordia University Saint Paul, which ranked #3. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates 45% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Concordia University Saint Paul earn around $46,327 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,026 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Concordia University Saint Paul
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at University Of Sioux Falls, which ranked #4. University Of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux Falls. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Sioux Falls in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Sioux Falls earn around $46,956 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,103 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Sioux Falls
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Saint Cloud State University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Cloud State University awarded about 36 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Saint Cloud State University earn around $40,279 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Saint Cloud State University
Winona State University landed the #6 spot for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Winona. Winona State University graduates 56% of students within six years. Winona State University awarded about 40 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $38,197 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,250.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Winona State University
Washburn University earned the #7 position for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Topeka. About 44% of students finish within six years. About 26 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Washburn University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Washburn University earn a median of $39,932 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete this degree.
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University Of South Dakota came in at #8 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 46 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of South Dakota in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of South Dakota earn around $35,792 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Loras College earned the #9 position for communication & media studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dubuque. Loras College graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Loras College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Loras College generally make around $36,821. Typical student debt for the program is $25,166.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Loras College
Wayne State College landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Wayne. About 52% of students finish within six years. About 13 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Wayne State College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Wayne State College generally make around $35,833. Wayne State College graduates carry a median of $25,325 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Wayne State College
Wartburg College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of Waverly, Wartburg College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Wartburg College in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $40,255 in their early career. Wartburg College graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Wartburg College
Maryville University Of Saint Louis ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $67,909 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Lindenwood University landed the #13 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Lindenwood University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Lindenwood University generally make around $50,346. Lindenwood University graduates carry a median of $28,500 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Lindenwood University
Webster University placed #14 among the best communication & media studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Webster University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Webster University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $55,445 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $30,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Webster University
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 41 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.
