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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 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.
Our analysis ranked University Of Arkansas the top school for communication media studies graduate earnings in Arkansas. Set 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.
A rank of #2 makes Arkansas State University Main Campus one of the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Jonesboro. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Arkansas State University Main Campus typically earn about $44,327 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Ouachita Baptist University earned it the #3 place for communication media studies. Set in the town of Arkadelphia, Ouachita Baptist 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 $41,779.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Arkansas At Little Rock earned it the #4 place for communication media studies. Located in the city of Little Rock, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a public institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from University Of Arkansas At Little Rock typically earn about $38,619 annually.
Arkansas Tech University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in communication media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Arkansas Tech University earn a median of about $37,352 a year early in their careers.
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith earned the #6 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Fort Smith, University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University Of Arkansas Fort Smith make a median of around $28,951 per year.
University Of Central Arkansas earned the #7 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of University Of Central Arkansas earn a median of about $28,490 a year early in their careers.
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 · 7 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.