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. The highest-paying schools turn a communication media studies degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find where communication media studies graduates earn the most.
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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.
Furman University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid communication media studies graduates in South Carolina. Set in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Furman University make a median of around $64,162 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in communication media studies will find them at Columbia College South Carolina, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia College South Carolina is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Columbia College South Carolina earn a median of about $47,742 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at College Of Charleston earned it the #3 place for communication media studies. College Of Charleston is a public school located in the city of Charleston. Communication Media Studies graduates of College Of Charleston earn a median of about $56,868 a year early in their careers.
South Carolina State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in communication media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. South Carolina State University is a public school located in the town of Orangeburg. Early-career communication media studies graduates from South Carolina State University make a median of around $38,249 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Coastal Carolina University earned it the #5 place for communication media studies. Set in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a public institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,719.
University Of South Carolina Upstate came in at #6 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Spartanburg, University Of South Carolina Upstate is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of University Of South Carolina Upstate earn a median of about $42,746 a year early in their careers.
Charleston Southern University earned the #7 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Charleston, Charleston Southern 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 $41,645.
Winthrop University came in at #8 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Winthrop University earn a median of about $38,558 a year early in their careers.
University Of South Carolina Aiken landed the #9 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Aiken, University Of South Carolina Aiken is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of University Of South Carolina Aiken earn a median of about $37,483 a year early in their careers.
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #10 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $35,586.
Claflin University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Set in the town of Orangeburg, Claflin 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 $41,925.
University Of South Carolina Beaufort ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Set in the town of Bluffton, University Of South Carolina Beaufort is a public institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $28,017.
Lander University placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Located in the town of Greenwood, Lander University is a public institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Lander University typically earn about $25,271 annually.
Benedict College came in at #14 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Benedict College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Communication Media Studies graduates of Benedict College earn a median of about $24,396 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 · 14 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.