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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 100 schools on the early-career earnings of their communication media studies graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose communication media studies graduates go on to earn the most.
Marymount University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Arlington, Marymount 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 $69,844.
Vanderbilt University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in communication media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Vanderbilt University make a median of around $65,907 per year.
University Of Virginia Main Campus produces some of the highest-paid graduates in communication media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University Of Virginia Main Campus make a median of around $79,620 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Elon University earned it the #4 place for communication media studies. Elon University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,002.
Wake Forest University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in communication media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Wake Forest University make a median of around $72,756 per year.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University typically earn about $65,239 annually.
James Madison University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. James Madison University is a public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Early-career communication media studies graduates from James Madison University make a median of around $66,067 per year.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill make a median of around $67,532 per year.
Belmont University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Belmont University earn a median of about $64,813 a year early in their careers.
Furman University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Located in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Furman University typically earn about $64,162 annually.
Randolph Macon College placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Randolph Macon 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 $62,066.
Bethany College West Virginia came in at #12 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Bethany, Bethany College West Virginia is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Bethany College West Virginia typically earn about $48,648 annually.
University Of Arkansas ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of about $61,155 a year early in their careers.
Virginia Wesleyan College earned the #14 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Virginia Wesleyan College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Virginia Wesleyan College typically earn about $47,949 annually.
University Of Florida earned the #15 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. University Of Florida is a public school located in the city of Gainesville. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from University Of Florida typically earn about $74,884 annually.
The University Of Tennessee placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. The University Of Tennessee is a public school located in the city of Knoxville. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee typically earn about $57,807 annually.
Columbia College South Carolina landed the #17 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia College South Carolina is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Columbia College South Carolina make a median of around $47,742 per year.
Devry University Florida ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Devry University Florida is a private for-profit school located in the city of Orlando. Communication Media Studies graduates of Devry University Florida earn a median of about $47,760 a year early in their careers.
Devry University Georgia ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Devry University Georgia is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Decatur. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Devry University Georgia typically earn about $47,760 annually.
Huntingdon College placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Located in the city of Montgomery, Huntingdon College is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Huntingdon College earn a median of about $47,265 a year early in their careers.
University Of Georgia earned the #21 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. University Of Georgia is a public school located in the city of Athens. Communication Media Studies graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of about $62,709 a year early in their careers.
Auburn University landed the #22 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Auburn University is a public school located in the city of Auburn. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Auburn University typically earn about $62,643 annually.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #23 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh typically earn about $55,642 annually.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earned the #24 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College typically earn about $58,962 annually.
Christopher Newport University landed the #25 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Located in the city of Newport News, Christopher Newport University is a public institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Christopher Newport University typically earn about $58,422 annually.
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 · 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.
