by our College Data Analytics Team
[Communication Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their communication media studies graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 90 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying communication media studies schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose communication media studies graduates go on to earn the most.
Gavilan College earned the #1 spot for highest-paid communication media studies graduates in the Far Western Region. Located in the rural area of Gilroy, Gavilan College is a public institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,946.
Students chasing top earnings in communication media studies will find them at San Jose State University, which ranked #2. San Jose State University is a public school located in the city of San Jose. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from San Jose State University typically earn about $67,114 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned it the #3 place for communication media studies. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo make a median of around $67,009 per year.
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. University Of California Berkeley is a public school located in the city of Berkeley. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University Of California Berkeley make a median of around $93,369 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in communication media studies will find them at Santa Clara University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of about $74,671 a year early in their careers.
Santa Monica College landed the #6 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Located in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Santa Monica College earn a median of about $62,391 a year early in their careers.
Biola University came in at #7 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Biola University typically earn about $59,996 annually.
Vanguard University Of Southern California landed the #8 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Vanguard University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Costa Mesa. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,961.
University Of Southern California ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from University Of Southern California typically earn about $77,431 annually.
College Of San Mateo came in at #10 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of College Of San Mateo earn a median of about $58,331 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of about $73,857 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Davis placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. University Of California Davis is a public school located in the suburb of Davis. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from University Of California Davis typically earn about $75,758 annually.
Pepperdine University earned the #13 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Pepperdine University typically earn about $66,858 annually.
Santa Barbara City College landed the #14 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Santa Barbara City College is a public school located in the city of Santa Barbara. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Santa Barbara City College typically earn about $54,515 annually.
Ashford University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Set in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Ashford University typically earn about $48,261 annually.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus earned the #16 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Bothell. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from University Of Washington Bothell Campus typically earn about $68,260 annually.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #17 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University Of Washington Seattle Campus make a median of around $68,260 per year.
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Located in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a public institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus make a median of around $68,260 per year.
Saddleback College placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a public institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Saddleback College make a median of around $53,689 per year.
Loyola Marymount University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of about $70,036 a year early in their careers.
California State University Bakersfield came in at #21 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of California State University Bakersfield earn a median of about $52,429 a year early in their careers.
San Francisco State University came in at #22 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. San Francisco State University is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from San Francisco State University typically earn about $69,437 annually.
Seattle University landed the #23 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Seattle University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Seattle University typically earn about $70,740 annually.
California Baptist University earned the #24 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from California Baptist University typically earn about $64,872 annually.
Moorpark College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of about $50,809 a year early in their careers.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning communication media studies graduates:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries communication media studies graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 90 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.