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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find where communication media studies graduates earn the most.
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.
Bryant University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid communication media studies graduates in Rhode Island. Bryant University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Smithfield. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Bryant University make a median of around $69,424 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Roger Williams University earned it the #2 place for communication media studies. Set in the suburb of Bristol, Roger Williams 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 $71,861.
University Of Rhode Island came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a public institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University Of Rhode Island make a median of around $63,795 per year.
Rhode Island College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in communication media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median of about $45,774 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Salve Regina University earned it the #5 place for communication media studies. Located in the suburb of Newport, Salve Regina University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Salve Regina University typically earn about $33,230 annually.
Johnson And Wales University Online earned the #6 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Johnson And Wales University Online is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Johnson And Wales University Online make a median of around $28,062 per year.
Johnson And Wales University Providence came in at #7 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Providence, Johnson And Wales University Providence is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Johnson And Wales University Providence earn a median of about $28,062 a year early in their careers.
Brown University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Brown University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Brown University typically earn about $23,738 annually.
The ranking above is published 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 · 8 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.