by our College Data Analytics Team
[Communication Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their communication media studies graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 100 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying communication media studies schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send communication media studies graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in communication media studies, no school beat Northwestern University this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of about $90,200 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #2 place for communication media studies. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $81,316 a year early in their careers.
Alverno College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Alverno College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,730.
Carroll University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in communication media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Carroll University earn a median of about $57,287 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in communication media studies will find them at Hiram College, which ranked #5. Hiram College is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hiram. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Hiram College make a median of around $57,027 per year.
Wisconsin Lutheran College landed the #6 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Lutheran College is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Wisconsin Lutheran College earn a median of about $55,008 a year early in their careers.
Denison University earned the #7 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Denison University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Granville. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Denison University make a median of around $64,696 per year.
University Of Dayton landed the #8 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,532.
Lake Forest College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Lake Forest College make a median of around $68,321 per year.
Depauw University landed the #10 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Set in the town of Greencastle, Depauw University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Depauw University typically earn about $64,923 annually.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public school located in the city of Champaign. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign typically earn about $71,207 annually.
Cedarville University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Located in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Cedarville University typically earn about $50,646 annually.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #13 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,099.
Augustana College Illinois placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Located in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Augustana College Illinois make a median of around $63,279 per year.
The College Of Wooster placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. The College Of Wooster is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Wooster. Early-career communication media studies graduates from The College Of Wooster make a median of around $64,741 per year.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Communication Media Studies graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $66,917 a year early in their careers.
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public school located in the city of Chicago. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,943.
Wheaton College Illinois ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Wheaton College Illinois earn a median of about $63,267 a year early in their careers.
Lakeland College came in at #19 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Lakeland College is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Plymouth. Communication Media Studies graduates of Lakeland College earn a median of about $48,830 a year early in their careers.
Trinity Christian College came in at #20 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Trinity Christian College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Palos Heights. Communication Media Studies graduates of Trinity Christian College earn a median of about $48,817 a year early in their careers.
Muskingum University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Located in the rural area of New Concord, Muskingum University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Muskingum University typically earn about $48,604 annually.
John Carroll University earned the #22 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of University Heights, John Carroll University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,845.
Michigan State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Michigan State University is a public school located in the city of East Lansing. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Michigan State University typically earn about $66,407 annually.
Edgewood College placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Edgewood College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Madison. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Edgewood College make a median of around $55,401 per year.
Adrian College earned the #25 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Adrian College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Adrian. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,849.
These schools also send communication media studies graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
This list is compiled 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 · 100 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.