Communications programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their communications programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 192 schools to find the best for communications students.
Where you study communications matters for your future. That is why we built our Best Communications Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Communications School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Communications Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Communications in the United States
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 communications degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than University Of California Los Angeles this year for communications. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 225 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communications degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $63,833 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
Get the full communications details for University Of California Los Angeles
University Of California Davis is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communications, ranking #2. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 265 communications degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $42,569. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
Get the full communications details for University Of California Davis
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best communications schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 618 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $46,598. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $13,018 in student loans.
See the full communications program report for University Of California Santa Barbara
Wake Forest University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communications, landing the #4 spot this year. Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 149 communications students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $42,055. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
Read more about the communications program at Wake Forest University
Students looking for a strong communications program will find one at Cornell University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cornell University awarded about 78 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communications program make about $62,182 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,418 to complete this degree.
See the full communications program report for Cornell University
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #6 position for communications this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. About 730 communications degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Students who receive their communications degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $43,295 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,782 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communications from Texas A And M University College Station
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #7 for communications this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 180 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Communications graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $59,776 early in their careers. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
See the full communications program report for Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best communications schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 199 communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communications degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $37,808 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
See the full communications program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Pepperdine University came in at #9 for communications this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Malibu. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 22 communications degrees were awarded at Pepperdine University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communications program make about $48,398 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,667.
See the full communications program report for Pepperdine University
Baylor University landed the #10 spot for communications this year. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Baylor University graduates 80% of students within six years. Baylor University awarded about 284 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Communications graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $43,740 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,860 to complete this degree.
See the full communications program report for Baylor University
University Of Kansas landed the #11 spot for communications this year. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 communications degrees were awarded at University Of Kansas in the most recent year. Graduates of the communications program make about $40,772 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communications from University Of Kansas
The College Of New Jersey placed #12 among the best communications schools. Located in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. The College Of New Jersey awarded about 74 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Communications graduates of The College Of New Jersey earn a median of $37,151 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communications from The College Of New Jersey
George Washington University came in at #13 for communications this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. George Washington University awarded about 34 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Communications graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $50,552 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the communications program at George Washington University
University Of Utah placed #14 among the best communications schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Salt Lake City. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 293 communications degrees were awarded at University Of Utah in the most recent year. Students who receive their communications degree from University Of Utah earn around $43,801 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,017.
Get the full communications details for University Of Utah
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #15 for communications this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 81 communications degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $38,912. Students borrow a median of $20,750 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communications from University Of Illinois At Chicago
Texas Christian University placed #16 among the best communications schools. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. Texas Christian University awarded about 18 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Communications graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $32,123 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
More information about a degree in communications from Texas Christian University
University Of Mary Washington ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best communications schools. Set in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. About 33 communications degrees were awarded at University Of Mary Washington in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from University Of Mary Washington generally make around $43,243. Typical student debt for the program is $22,825.
See the full communications program report for University Of Mary Washington
Marist College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best communications schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Marist College awarded about 141 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Marist College generally make around $41,818. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full communications program report for Marist College
University Of California San Diego ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best communications schools. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 239 communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communications program make about $33,046 in their early career. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $14,568 in student loans.
Read more about the communications program at University Of California San Diego
High Point University placed #20 among the best communications schools. Located in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. High Point University graduates 72% of students within six years. High Point University awarded about 90 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. Typical student debt for the program is $23,785.
See the full communications program report for High Point University
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College placed #21 among the best communications schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 93 communications degrees were awarded at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $36,367. Typical student debt for the program is $7,892.
See the full communications program report for Cuny Bernard M Baruch College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute landed the #22 spot for communications this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Troy. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 communications degrees were awarded at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the most recent year. Students who receive their communications degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn around $77,378 in the first couple years of their career. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates carry a median of $24,975 in student loans.
Read more about the communications program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Boston University placed #23 among the best communications schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 communications students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communications degree from Boston University earn around $40,675 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,108 to complete this degree.
Get the full communications details for Boston University
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #24 position for communications this year. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 182 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Communications graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $36,380 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,125 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communications from University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Towson University earned the #25 position for communications this year. Towson University is a very large public school located in the city of Towson. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 88 communications students who graduated with this degree at Towson University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $42,657. Typical student debt for the program is $20,309.
See the full communications program report for Towson University
Rest of the Top 50 Communications Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communications ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 192 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).
