2026 Best Communications Schools in Washington

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 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools to find the best for communications students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Communications Schools in Washington

Best Schools for Communications in Washington

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall communications education in Washington.

Top Schools in Communications

1

Saint Martins University
Lacey, WA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

13 Communications Degrees Awarded

$60,864 Median Starting Salary

Leading the list is Saint Martins University, our #1 school for communications. Located in the city of Lacey, Saint Martins University is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Saint Martins University awarded about 13 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communications degree from Saint Martins University earn around $60,864 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,818 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in communications from Saint Martins University

2

Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA

Associate's Degree Highest Degree Type

21 Communications Degrees Awarded

$35,820 Median Starting Salary

Central Washington University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communications, ranking #2. Set in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a very large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Central Washington University awarded about 21 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Communications graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of $35,820 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,572. Get the full communications details for Central Washington University

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 5 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.