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 highest-paying schools turn a communication media studies degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find where communication media studies graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose communication media studies graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in communication media studies, no school beat University Of Washington Bothell Campus this year. University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Bothell. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University Of Washington Bothell Campus make a median of around $68,260 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #2 place for communication media studies. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school located in the city of Seattle. Communication Media Studies graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of about $68,260 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in communication media studies will find them at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $68,260.
Strong graduate earnings at Seattle University earned it the #4 place for communication media studies. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Seattle University earn a median of about $70,740 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Washington State University earned it the #5 place for communication media studies. Washington State University is a public school located in the town of Pullman. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Washington State University typically earn about $74,440 annually.
Eastern Washington University came in at #6 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a public institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,067.
Pacific Lutheran University landed the #7 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Pacific Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Tacoma. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Pacific Lutheran University typically earn about $59,869 annually.
Western Washington University came in at #8 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a public institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,134.
Central Washington University earned the #9 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a public institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Central Washington University make a median of around $53,167 per year.
Seattle Pacific University earned the #10 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Seattle Pacific University make a median of around $56,672 per year.
Whitworth University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Spokane, Whitworth University is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Whitworth University earn a median of about $39,305 a year early in their careers.
Gonzaga University came in at #12 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Spokane, Gonzaga University is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Gonzaga University earn a median of about $37,799 a year early in their careers.
University Of Puget Sound earned the #13 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Puget Sound is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of University Of Puget Sound earn a median of about $29,477 a year early in their careers.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their communication media studies graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 13 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.