by our College Data Analytics Team
[Communication Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. 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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Below are the schools whose communication media studies graduates go on to earn the most.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis earned the #1 spot for highest-paid communication media studies graduates in Missouri. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Maryville University Of Saint Louis make a median of around $53,312 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in communication media studies will find them at University Of Central Missouri, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a public institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University Of Central Missouri make a median of around $51,875 per year.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Missouri Columbia one of the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. University Of Missouri Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia typically earn about $59,233 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in communication media studies will find them at Lindenwood University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood 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 $52,765.
A rank of #5 makes Webster University one of the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster 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 $44,942.
University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #6 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public institution. Early-career communication media studies graduates from University Of Missouri Kansas City make a median of around $54,079 per year.
Northwest Missouri State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Northwest Missouri State University is a public school located in the town of Maryville. Communication Media Studies graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of about $49,892 a year early in their careers.
Truman State University came in at #8 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Truman State University is a public school located in the town of Kirksville. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Truman State University typically earn about $52,801 annually.
Southeast Missouri State University came in at #9 for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of about $47,311 a year early in their careers.
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for communication media studies salaries this year. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Saint Louis University Main Campus make a median of around $54,797 per year.
Missouri Southern State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication media studies schools. Missouri Southern State University is a public school located in the city of Joplin. Early-career communication media studies graduates from Missouri Southern State University make a median of around $53,540 per year.
University Of Missouri St Louis placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for communication media studies. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a public institution. Communication Media Studies graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of about $49,044 a year early in their careers.
Avila University earned the #13 position for communication media studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Avila University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication media studies degree recipients from Avila University typically earn about $44,343 annually.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #14 for communication media studies graduate earnings 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 $41,658.
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 · 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.