2021 Highest Paid Communication & Media Studies Graduates
Finding the Best Communication & Media Studies School for You
In 2018-2019, 55,113 communication and media studies students received their bachelor's degrees, making the major the #6 most popular in the country.
The communications school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Highest Paid Communications Graduates.
This year's Highest Paid Communication & Media Studies Graduates ranking analyzed 537 colleges that offered a bachelor's degree in communications.
The numbers used in this ranking are early career salaries, which we define to be 10 years after a student started college. This is the salary typically earned 4-6 years after graduation, but may be different depending on how long a person takes to complete their degree.
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How Much Do Communication & Media Studies Majors Make After Graduation?
After graduating, communication and media studies majors that go to school in the United States go on to jobs making an average of $31,626 per year. That's not so great, since it is 21% less than the national average salary of a typical bachelor's degree holder. However, graduates from the schools in this list may make more.
College Combat
To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.
2021 Highest Paid Communication & Media Studies Grads in United States
Learn more about the colleges and universities that produce the highest paid communications graduates.
Top 25 Best Schools for Highly Paid Communications Graduates
University of Pennsylvania comes in at #1 in this year's ranking. Located in the large city of Philadelphia, UPenn is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in communications from the school is $49,400.
On average, communications graduates from UPenn take out $18,296 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $202, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Stanford University comes in at #1 in this year's ranking. Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Stanford.
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Cornell University comes in at #2 in this year's ranking. Located in the small city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, communications majors make an average salary of $47,100.
While working on their bachelor's, communications majors at Cornell accumulate an average of around $13,860 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $140.
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Boston College comes in at #3 in this year's ranking. Boston College is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Chestnut Hill. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, communications majors make an average salary of $45,700.
The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Boston College take out while working on their bachelor's is $14,245. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $161.
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Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network comes in at #4 in this year's ranking. Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in communications from the school is $45,400.
The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network take out while working on their bachelor's is $23,106. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $254, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Our rankings recognize Northeastern University as the #5 school in this year's rankings. Northeastern is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Boston. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in communications from the school is $45,400.
Communications majors at Northeastern take out an average of $23,106 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $254, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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George Washington University earned the #5 spot in our 2021 rankings. GWU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Washington.
On average, communications graduates from GWU take out $20,820 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $214, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Our rankings recognize Brown University as the #6 school in this year's rankings. Brown is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Providence.
On average, communications graduates from Brown take out $14,007 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree.
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Metropolitan State University earned the #6 spot in our 2021 rankings. Metropolitan State University is a medium-sized public school located in the large city of Saint Paul. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in communications from the school is $44,000.
The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Metropolitan State University take out while working on their bachelor's is $17,746. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $172, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #7 spot in this year's ranking belongs to University of California - Berkeley. Located in the city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public school with a fairly large student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in communications from the school is $43,800.
While working on their bachelor's, communications majors at UC Berkeley accumulate an average of around $15,484 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $156, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Our rankings recognize Colorado State University - Global Campus as the #8 school in this year's rankings. Located in the large city of Greenwood Village, Colorado State University - Global Campus is a public school with a large student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in communications from the school is $43,600.
On average, communications graduates from Colorado State University - Global Campus take out $26,373 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $262, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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University of Maryland - College Park landed the #9 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid communication and media studies school. UMCP is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of College Park. Students who receive their bachelor's in communications from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $43,300.
On average, communications graduates from UMCP take out $18,317 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $197.
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Seton Hall University comes in at #9 in this year's ranking. Seton Hall is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of South Orange.
While working on their bachelor's, communications majors at Seton Hall accumulate an average of around $23,782 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $257, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Our rankings recognize University of Maryland - University College as the #10 school in this year's rankings. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, University of Maryland - University College is a public college with a very large student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in communications from the school is $43,000.
Communications majors at University of Maryland - University College take out an average of $25,233 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $224.
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The #10 spot in this year's ranking belongs to The College of Wooster. Located in the town of Wooster, Wooster College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Wooster College take out while working on their bachelor's is $22,636.
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The #11 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Santa Clara University. SCU is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Santa Clara. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in communications from the school is $43,000.
The average amount in student loans that communications majors at SCU take out while working on their bachelor's is $17,110. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $195.
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DePauw University landed the #12 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid communication and media studies school. Located in the distant town of Greencastle, DePauw is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in communications from the school is $43,000.
Communications majors at DePauw take out an average of $23,315 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $270.
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The #13 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Boston University. Located in the city of Boston, Boston U is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population. Communications majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $42,900.
While working on their bachelor's, communications majors at Boston U accumulate an average of around $21,574 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $254, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Our rankings recognize Northwestern University as the #14 school in this year's rankings. Northwestern U is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Evanston. Communications majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $42,600.
After completing their bachelor's degree, communications graduates from Northwestern U carry an average student debtload of $16,860. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $161.
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Pepperdine University earned the #14 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the large suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Pepperdine take out while working on their bachelor's is $18,012.
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The #15 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Massachusetts Institute of Technology. MIT is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge.
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Our rankings recognize Roger Williams University as the #15 school in this year's rankings. Located in the suburb of Bristol, RWU is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in communications from the school is $42,300.
While working on their bachelor's, communications majors at RWU accumulate an average of around $23,921 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $280.
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Our rankings recognize Bryant University as the #16 school in this year's rankings. Bryant is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Smithfield. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in communications from the school is $42,300.
On average, communications graduates from Bryant take out $22,875 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $280.
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Fairfield University comes in at #17 in this year's ranking. Located in the large suburb of Fairfield, Fairfield U is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in communications from the school is $42,300.
The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Fairfield U take out while working on their bachelor's is $22,581. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $280.
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Our rankings recognize Villanova University as the #18 school in this year's rankings. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population. Communications majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $42,200.
On average, communications graduates from Villanova take out $22,999 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $279.
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Remaining Award Winners
This section represents the remainder of the colleges awarded a Highest Paid Communication & Media Studies Graduates badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 537 different United States communication and media studies schools we analyzed.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Highest Paid Communication & Media Studies Graduates award.
Communication & Media Studies by Region
View the Highest Paid Communication & Media Studies Graduates for a specific region near you.
| Region |
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| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| The Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
Communication & Media Studies Related Rankings by Major
Communication & Media Studies is one of 5 different types of Communication & Journalism programs to choose from.
Majors Similar to Communications
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Relations & Advertising | 16,785 |
| Journalism | 12,988 |
| Radio, Television & Digital Communication | 10,624 |
| Communication & Journalism (Other) | 1,002 |
| Publishing | 37 |
View All Communications Related Majors >
Notes and References
- 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to UNU-WIDER from Helsinki, Finland.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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