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 13 schools on the early-career earnings of their communication media studies graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send communication media studies graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Huntingdon College tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools in Alabama. Located in the city of Montgomery, Huntingdon 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 $47,265.
Students chasing top earnings in communication media studies will find them at Auburn University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a public institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Auburn University typically earn about $62,643 annually.
The University Of Alabama produces some of the highest-paid graduates in communication media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a public institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,949.
University Of Alabama At Huntsville came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Located in the city of Huntsville, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a public institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,715.
Strong graduate earnings at Samford University earned it the #5 place for communication media studies. Set in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Samford University make a median of around $39,690 per year.
Jacksonville State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Jacksonville State University is a public school located in the suburb of Jacksonville. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Jacksonville State University typically earn about $39,144 annually.
University Of South Alabama came in at #7 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a public institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from University Of South Alabama typically earn about $46,121 annually.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public school located in the city of Birmingham. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham typically earn about $39,661 annually.
Auburn University At Montgomery earned the #9 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Auburn University At Montgomery is a public school located in the city of Montgomery. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,292.
University Of North Alabama earned the #10 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a public institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University Of North Alabama make a median of around $42,034 per year.
Troy University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Set in the town of Troy, Troy University is a public institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Troy University typically earn about $33,154 annually.
Alabama State University landed the #12 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Montgomery, Alabama State University is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Alabama State University earn a median of about $37,881 a year early in their careers.
Talladega College earned the #13 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Talladega, Talladega College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Talladega College make a median of around $23,173 per year.
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 · 13 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.