by our College Data Analytics Team
[Communication Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 6 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.
For graduate earnings in communication media studies, no school beat University Of Southern Mississippi this year. Located in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a public institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,927.
Strong graduate earnings at Mississippi State University earned it the #2 place for communication media studies. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a public institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Mississippi State University make a median of around $50,575 per year.
Mississippi College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in communication media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Mississippi College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Clinton. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,949.
A rank of #4 makes Jackson State University one of the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Jackson State University is a public school located in the city of Jackson. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Jackson State University typically earn about $40,204 annually.
A rank of #5 makes Mississippi University For Women one of the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Mississippi University For Women is a public school located in the town of Columbus. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $29,886.
Alcorn State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Located in the rural area of Alcorn State, Alcorn State University is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Alcorn State University earn a median of about $27,087 a year early in their careers.
This ranking is produced 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 · 6 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.