2026 Best Communications Master’s Degree Schools
Communications degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 438 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best communications schools.
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Best Schools for Communications in the United States
Below are the best communications schools at the master’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Communications
Baylor University tops our 2026 ranking of the best communications schools. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Baylor University awarded about 10 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communications degree from Baylor University earn around $43,740 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,860.
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Students looking for a strong communications program will find one at University Of Houston, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Houston. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Houston awarded about 21 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communications program make about $37,958 in their early career. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $24,777 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communications from University Of Houston
Students looking for a strong communications program will find one at Marquette University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Marquette University awarded about 22 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $36,443. Marquette University graduates carry a median of $23,531 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communications from Marquette University
A rank of #4 makes Boston University one of the top schools for communications. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 communications students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Communications graduates of Boston University earn a median of $34,000 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,108 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communications, ranking #5. This large public university is located in the town of Whitewater. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 communications degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent year. Communications graduates of University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn a median of $39,367 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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National University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best communications schools. Set in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 communications students who graduated with this degree at National University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communications degree from National University earn around $55,730 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,426 to complete this degree.
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Merrimack College earned the #7 position for communications this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of North Andover. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Merrimack College awarded about 28 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communications program make about $29,527 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,783 to complete this degree.
See the full communications program report for Merrimack College
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #8 spot for communications this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 18 communications degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Communications graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $36,666 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,063 to complete this degree.
See the full communications program report for Ohio University Main Campus
Clark University came in at #9 for communications this year. Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Clark University awarded about 20 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communications program make about $42,329 in their early career. Clark University graduates carry a median of $26,153 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communications from Clark University
Sacred Heart University landed the #10 spot for communications this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Fairfield. Sacred Heart University graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 communications students who graduated with this degree at Sacred Heart University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communications degree from Sacred Heart University earn around $35,471 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,399.
Read more about the communications program at Sacred Heart University
Eastern Illinois University came in at #11 for communications this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. About 24 communications degrees were awarded at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communications program make about $43,587 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communications program at Eastern Illinois University
The University Of Texas Pan American came in at #12 for communications this year. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 14 communications degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Pan American in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $26,748. Typical student debt for the program is $11,956.
See the full communications program report for The University Of Texas Pan American
Grand Canyon University landed the #13 spot for communications this year. This very large private for-profit university is located in the city of Phoenix. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. About 112 communications degrees were awarded at Grand Canyon University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $48,139. Grand Canyon University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full communications program report for Grand Canyon University
Arkansas State University Main Campus earned the #14 position for communications this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Jonesboro. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 communications students who graduated with this degree at Arkansas State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Arkansas State University Main Campus generally make around $40,192. Typical student debt for the program is $21,250.
Read more about the communications program at Arkansas State University Main Campus
Queens University Of Charlotte came in at #15 for communications this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Queens University Of Charlotte is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Queens University Of Charlotte graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 communications students who graduated with this degree at Queens University Of Charlotte in the most recent data year. Communications graduates of Queens University Of Charlotte earn a median of $48,699 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in communications from Queens University Of Charlotte
Wichita State University placed #16 among the best communications schools. This large public university is located in the city of Wichita. Wichita State University graduates 51% of students within six years. About 11 communications degrees were awarded at Wichita State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communications degree from Wichita State University earn around $35,035 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,159 to complete this degree.
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Drury University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best communications schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Springfield. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 12 communications students who graduated with this degree at Drury University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communications degree from Drury University earn around $37,267 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,641 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communications program at Drury University
New Mexico State University Main Campus earned the #18 position for communications this year. Set in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public institution. New Mexico State University Main Campus graduates 55% of students within six years. About 16 communications degrees were awarded at New Mexico State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their communications degree from New Mexico State University Main Campus earn around $41,860 in the first couple years of their career. New Mexico State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,026 in student loans.
Read more about the communications program at New Mexico State University Main Campus
La Salle University earned the #19 position for communications this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. La Salle University graduates 58% of students within six years. La Salle University awarded about 19 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Communications graduates of La Salle University earn a median of $36,217 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,924 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Parkside came in at #20 for communications this year. Located in the rural area of Kenosha, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. University Of Wisconsin Parkside awarded about 12 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Communications graduates of University Of Wisconsin Parkside earn a median of $37,107 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Parkside graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At San Antonio ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best communications schools. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 communications degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At San Antonio in the most recent year. Communications graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $41,402 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,923.
More information about a degree in communications from The University Of Texas At San Antonio
Texas Southern University placed #22 among the best communications schools. Texas Southern University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Houston. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. Texas Southern University awarded about 19 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communications program make about $33,963 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $38,783.
More information about a degree in communications from Texas Southern University
Other Communications Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Communications rankings across degree levels:
View All Communications Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 438 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.
