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.
College Factual analyzed 11 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 Colorado State University Global Campus this year. Set in the city of Denver, Colorado State University Global Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,111.
Strong graduate earnings at Regis University earned it the #2 place for communication media studies. Regis University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Regis University make a median of around $59,164 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Colorado Boulder earned it the #3 place for communication media studies. University Of Colorado Boulder is a public school located in the city of Boulder. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University Of Colorado Boulder make a median of around $66,999 per year.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Denver one of the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University Of Denver make a median of around $63,583 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in communication media studies will find them at University Of Colorado Denver, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a public institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University Of Colorado Denver make a median of around $57,243 per year.
Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,306.
University Of Northern Colorado came in at #7 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a public institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from University Of Northern Colorado typically earn about $53,322 annually.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs landed the #8 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a public school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs make a median of around $49,311 per year.
Colorado Christian University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Colorado Christian University earn a median of about $39,623 a year early in their careers.
Mesa State College placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a public institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Mesa State College typically earn about $45,866 annually.
Colorado State University Pueblo earned the #11 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University Pueblo is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Colorado State University Pueblo earn a median of about $43,818 a year early in their careers.
The ranking above is published 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 · 11 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.