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 5 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.
Leading the list is Webster University, our #1 for communication media studies graduate salaries in the The Plains States Region. Webster University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,594.
Students chasing top earnings in communication media studies will find them at Lindenwood University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Lindenwood University make a median of around $57,392 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Drake University earned it the #3 place for communication media studies. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Drake University make a median of around $56,361 per year.
University Of Central Missouri produces some of the highest-paid graduates in communication media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Central Missouri is a public school located in the town of Warrensburg. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University Of Central Missouri make a median of around $51,598 per year.
Missouri State University Springfield produces some of the highest-paid graduates in communication media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. Students who complete the communication media studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,092.
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 · 5 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.