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 8 schools to find where communication media studies graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose communication media studies graduates go on to earn the most.
Dallas Baptist University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid communication media studies graduates in Texas. Located in the city of Dallas, Dallas Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Dallas Baptist University earn a median of about $68,864 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #2 makes Stephen F Austin State University one of the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Set in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Stephen F Austin State University earn a median of about $57,579 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Texas Pan American produces some of the highest-paid graduates in communication media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. The University Of Texas Pan American is a public school located in the city of Edinburg. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,537.
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Texas State University San Marcos is a public school located in the city of San Marcos. Communication Media Studies graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of about $66,385 a year early in their careers.
Texas Tech University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Texas Tech University make a median of around $66,438 per year.
University Of The Incarnate Word landed the #6 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, University Of The Incarnate Word is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University Of The Incarnate Word make a median of around $50,899 per year.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned the #7 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of about $41,402 a year early in their careers.
Texas Southern University earned the #8 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Houston, Texas Southern University is a public institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Texas Southern University typically earn about $33,963 annually.
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 · 8 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.