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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Communication & Media Studies

1,382 Ranked Colleges
66,787 Degrees Awarded
$30,000 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major” ranking.

With 66,787 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, communication and media studies is the 10th most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, communication and media studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,115 and had an average of $25,414 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major” ranking analyzed 1,382 colleges that offered a degree in communication and media studies. That schools that top this list have a program in communication and media studies in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Communication & Media Studies Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Communication & Media Studies

1

Out of the 1,382 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major that were part of this year’s ranking, John Paul the Great Catholic University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Escondido, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 55 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at John Paul the Great Catholic University

2
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Lasell University
Newton, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lasell University. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major. Lasell is a private not-for-profit institution located in Newton, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 92 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Lasell

3
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Hanover College
Hanover, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hanover College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major list. This small school is located in Hanover, Indiana, and it awarded 33 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Hanover College Communication & Media Studies Report

4
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Wilberforce University
Wilberforce, Ohio

Out of the 1,382 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Wilberforce University landed the #4 spot on the list. Wilberforce University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wilberforce, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Wilberforce University

5
DePauw crest
DePauw University
Greencastle, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend DePauw University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major. Greencastle, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 66 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full DePauw Communication & Media Studies Report

6
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Mitchell College
New London, Connecticut

Mitchell College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking. This small school is located in New London, Connecticut, and it awarded 15 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Mitchell College Communication & Media Studies Report

7
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Marist College
Poughkeepsie, New York

Marist College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking. Marist is located in Poughkeepsie, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 204 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Marist College

8
SUNY Oneonta crest
SUNY Oneonta
Oneonta, New York

SUNY Oneonta came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking. Oneonta, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 186 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full SUNY Oneonta Communication & Media Studies Report

9

Unilatina International College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking. Unilatina International College is a small school located in Miramar, Florida that handed out 2 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Unilatina International College Communication & Media Studies Report

10
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Randolph - Macon College
Ashland, Virginia

Randolph - Macon College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking, coming in at #10. Randolph - Macon College is located in Ashland, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Randolph - Macon College

11

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is located in Cheyney, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

12
Rollins crest
Rollins College
Winter Park, Florida

With a ranking of #12, Rollins College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major list. This small school is located in Winter Park, Florida, and it awarded 82 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Rollins

13
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Five Towns College
Dix Hills, New York

Five Towns College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking. Five Towns College is a private for-profit institution located in Dix Hills, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Five Towns College

14
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Rochester University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Rochester University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major list. This small school is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 23 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Rochester University Communication & Media Studies Report

15
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Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina

Queens University of Charlotte landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking. Queens is a private not-for-profit institution located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 77 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Queens University of Charlotte Communication & Media Studies Report

16
Morris College crest
Morris College
Sumter, South Carolina

With a ranking of #16, Morris College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major list. This small school is located in Sumter, South Carolina, and it awarded 8 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Morris College

17
Bethany College West Virginia crest
Bethany College West Virginia
Bethany, West Virginia

Bethany College West Virginia did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking, coming in at #17. Bethany, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Bethany College West Virginia

18
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Paul Quinn College
Dallas, Texas

Paul Quinn College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking, coming in at #18. This small school is located in Dallas, Texas, and it awarded 8 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Paul Quinn College

19
Dillard University crest
Dillard University
New Orleans, Louisiana

Dillard University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking, coming in at #19. Dillard University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in New Orleans, Louisiana. It awarded 17 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Dillard University

20
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Marymount Manhattan College
New York, New York

With a ranking of #20, Marymount Manhattan College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major list. MMC is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 39 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at MMC

21
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Johnson C Smith University
Charlotte, North Carolina

With a ranking of #21, Johnson C Smith University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major list. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at JCSU

22
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Muhlenberg College
Allentown, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #22, Muhlenberg College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major list. Muhlenberg College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It awarded 56 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Muhlenberg Communication & Media Studies Report

23
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Ouachita Baptist University
Arkadelphia, Arkansas

Ouachita Baptist University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking. Ouachita Baptist University is a small school located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas that handed out 38 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Ouachita Baptist University Communication & Media Studies Report

24
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Christopher Newport University
Newport News, Virginia

Christopher Newport University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major list. CNU is located in Newport News, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 107 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at CNU

25
High Point crest
High Point University
High Point, North Carolina

High Point University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking. High Point, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 101 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at High Point University

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
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Westmont College
Santa Barbara, California
27
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Albion College
Albion, Michigan
28
Southwestern crest
Southwestern University
Georgetown, Texas
29
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Bethany Lutheran College
Mankato, Minnesota
30
Virginia State crest
Virginia State University
Petersburg, Virginia
31
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Denison University
Granville, Ohio
32
Principia crest
Principia College
Elsah, Illinois
33
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Furman University
Greenville, South Carolina
34
Lane College crest
Lane College
Jackson, Tennessee
35
Tougaloo crest
Tougaloo College
Tougaloo, Mississippi
36
SUNY Geneseo crest
SUNY Geneseo
Geneseo, New York
37
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia
38
LIM crest
LIM College
New York, New York
39
40
Emmanuel Boston crest
Emmanuel College Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts
41
42
43
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Alabama State University
Montgomery, Alabama
44
45
46
Ripon crest
Ripon College
Ripon, Wisconsin
47
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Salisbury University
Salisbury, Maryland
48
Coastal Carolina University crest
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, South Carolina
49
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Houghton College
Houghton, New York
50
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Wiley College
Marshall, Texas

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 Bethune - Cookman University Daytona Beach, FL
52 John Carroll University University Heights, OH
53 Claflin University Orangeburg, SC
54 Landmark College Putney, VT
55 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
56 William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJ
57 California State University - Fullerton Fullerton, CA
58 Iona College New Rochelle, NY
58 Randolph College Lynchburg, VA
60 San Diego Christian College Santee, CA
61 College of Charleston Charleston, SC
62 Ave Maria University Ave Maria, FL
63 Curry College Milton, MA
64 Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah, NJ
65 North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NC
Rank College Location
66 California State University - Channel Islands Camarillo, CA
67 Oglethorpe University Atlanta, GA
67 Andrew College Cuthbert, GA
69 Emmanuel College Franklin Springs, GA
70 Purchase College Purchase, NY
71 St. Andrews University Laurinburg, NC
72 Ottawa University - Surprise Surprise, AZ
73 Saint Norbert College De Pere, WI
74 Monmouth University West Long Branch, NJ
75 The College of Wooster Wooster, OH
76 Stonehill College Easton, MA
77 Saint Johns University Collegeville, MN
78 University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA
79 College of Saint Benedict Saint Joseph, MN
80 University of Hawaii at Hilo Hilo, HI
81 University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO
81 University of South Carolina - Beaufort Bluffton, SC
83 University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College Blue Ash, OH
84 Spring Hill College Mobile, AL
85 Transylvania University Lexington, KY
86 Westminster College Utah Salt Lake City, UT
87 Cabrini University Radnor, PA
88 Life Pacific College San Dimas, CA
89 Linfield University - McMinnville Campus McMinnville, OR
90 Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX
Rank College Location
91 Shaw University Raleigh, NC
92 Berea College Berea, KY
93 Arizona State University - Skysong Scottsdale, AZ
94 California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CA
95 Pitzer College Claremont, CA
96 Wartburg College Waverly, IA
97 Bridgewater State University Bridgewater, MA
98 Heidelberg University Tiffin, OH
99 Longwood University Farmville, VA
100 Harris - Stowe State University Saint Louis, MO
101 Edward Waters College Jacksonville, FL
102 Loyola University Maryland Baltimore, MD
103 Eastern Connecticut State University Willimantic, CT
104 SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, NY
105 California State University - San Marcos San Marcos, CA
106 Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC
107 Catawba College Salisbury, NC
108 Westfield State University Westfield, MA
109 Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter, MN
110 University of the Ozarks Clarksville, AR
111 Gordon College Wenham, MA
112 University of Denver Denver, CO
113 Northwest University Kirkland, WA
114 Central College Pella, IA
115 Grove City College Grove City, PA
Rank College Location
116 Ursinus College Collegeville, PA
116 Bethel University Minnesota Saint Paul, MN
116 Benedict College Columbia, SC
119 Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown, PA
120 University at Albany Albany, NY
121 Saint Edward’s University Austin, TX
122 Kentucky Wesleyan College Owensboro, KY
123 University of Minnesota - Crookston Crookston, MN
124 Pine Manor College Chestnut Hill, MA
125 Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL
126 Bridgewater College Bridgewater, VA
127 Holy Names University Oakland, CA
128 Grambling State University Grambling, LA
129 Paine College Augusta, GA
130 Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA
131 Western Connecticut State University Danbury, CT
132 Fairfield University Fairfield, CT
133 Eureka College Eureka, IL
134 College of San Mateo San Mateo, CA
135 Scripps College Claremont, CA
136 Vanguard University of Southern California Costa Mesa, CA
137 University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Chickasha, OK
138 Kean University Union, NJ
139 Bellarmine University Louisville, KY
140 Roanoke College Salem, VA
Rank College Location
140 Lindsey Wilson College Columbia, KY
142 Indiana University - East Richmond, IN
143 Talladega College Talladega, AL
144 Austin College Sherman, TX
145 Dean College Franklin, MA
146 Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA
147 Augustana College Rock Island, IL
148 University of Dayton Dayton, OH
149 Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, PA
150 Universidad del Sagrado Corazon Santurce, PR
151 Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA
152 Saint Augustine’s University Raleigh, NC
153 Lander University Greenwood, SC
154 University of Puget Sound Tacoma, WA
155 East Carolina University Greenville, NC
156 Manhattanville College Purchase, NY
157 Hope College Holland, MI
158 California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, CA
159 Pomona College Claremont, CA
160 Drew University Madison, NJ
161 Pace University - New York New York, NY
162 Ottawa University - Ottawa Ottawa, KS
162 Concordia College at Moorhead Moorhead, MN
162 Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PA
165 University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL
Rank College Location
166 Waynesburg University Waynesburg, PA
167 University of Washington - Tacoma Campus Tacoma, WA
168 Allegheny College Meadville, PA
169 SUNY Potsdam Potsdam, NY
170 Centenary College of Louisiana Shreveport, LA
171 Tennessee State University Nashville, TN
172 Missouri Valley College Marshall, MO
173 Goucher College Baltimore, MD
174 Aquinas College Michigan Grand Rapids, MI
175 East Texas Baptist University Marshall, TX
176 Saint Vincent College Latrobe, PA
177 Saint Mary’s College Notre Dame, IN
177 San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA
177 Birmingham Southern College Birmingham, AL
177 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus Madison, NJ
181 SUNY Cortland Cortland, NY
182 Young Harris College Young Harris, GA
183 West Virginia State University Institute, WV
184 Manhattan College Riverdale, NY
185 Saint Anselm College Manchester, NH
186 Gallaudet University Washington, DC
187 University of Jamestown Jamestown, ND
188 Albright College Reading, PA
189 University of Dubuque Dubuque, IA
190 Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CT
Rank College Location
191 St Lawrence University Canton, NY
192 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI
193 Keene State College Keene, NH
194 Dutchess Community College Poughkeepsie, NY
195 Worcester State University Worcester, MA
196 South Carolina State University Orangeburg, SC
197 Winona State University Winona, MN
198 Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens, TN
199 Valdosta State University Valdosta, GA
200 Presentation College Aberdeen, SD
201 Regent University Virginia Beach, VA
202 Texas Southern University Houston, TX
203 Eastern Nazarene College Quincy, MA
203 Indiana University - Southeast New Albany, IN
205 The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX
206 St. Thomas Aquinas College Sparkill, NY
207 University of North Carolina at Wilmington Wilmington, NC
208 Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, IL

Notes and References

References

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