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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 62 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.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #1 spot for highest-paid communication media studies graduates in New York. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $147,928.
Students chasing top earnings in communication media studies will find them at Cornell University, which ranked #2. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Cornell University make a median of around $89,715 per year.
A rank of #3 makes Cuny Graduate School And University Center one of the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn a median of about $61,361 a year early in their careers.
Hobart William Smith Colleges produces some of the highest-paid graduates in communication media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Hobart William Smith Colleges is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Geneva. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Hobart William Smith Colleges typically earn about $70,320 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Fordham University earned it the #5 place for communication media studies. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Fordham University earn a median of about $72,537 a year early in their careers.
Farmingdale State College earned the #6 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Farmingdale, Farmingdale State College is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Farmingdale State College earn a median of about $56,832 a year early in their careers.
Marist College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $72,563.
Hofstra University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra 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 $75,038.
Manhattan College earned the #9 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Manhattan College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverdale. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Manhattan College make a median of around $68,181 per year.
Alfred University earned the #10 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Alfred, Alfred University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Alfred University typically earn about $51,996 annually.
Suffolk County Community College placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Suffolk County Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Selden. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Suffolk County Community College make a median of around $52,717 per year.
Pace University New York landed the #12 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Pace University New York is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Pace University New York make a median of around $72,510 per year.
Cuny City College landed the #13 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of about $59,593 a year early in their careers.
St Lawrence University earned the #14 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. St Lawrence University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Canton. Early-career communication media studies graduates from St Lawrence University make a median of around $69,299 per year.
Dominican College Of Blauvelt ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Orangeburg, Dominican College Of Blauvelt is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Dominican College Of Blauvelt typically earn about $48,316 annually.
Syracuse University earned the #16 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of about $64,144 a year early in their careers.
Niagara University earned the #17 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Niagara University typically earn about $47,075 annually.
Suny At Geneseo landed the #18 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Set in the town of Geneseo, Suny At Geneseo is a public institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Suny At Geneseo make a median of around $56,074 per year.
University At Buffalo placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a public institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University At Buffalo make a median of around $57,140 per year.
Saint Thomas Aquinas College landed the #20 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Sparkill, Saint Thomas Aquinas College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Saint Thomas Aquinas College typically earn about $71,055 annually.
Clarkson University earned the #21 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Potsdam, Clarkson University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Clarkson University make a median of around $50,076 per year.
Molloy College landed the #22 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Rockville Centre, Molloy College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Molloy College typically earn about $62,905 annually.
Suny College At Cortland ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Located in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a public institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,625.
Iona College came in at #24 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Iona College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of New Rochelle. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Iona College typically earn about $61,436 annually.
Suny College At Brockport ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Located in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Suny College At Brockport earn a median of about $49,145 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid communication media studies ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 62 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.