College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Focused Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in Iowa

27 Ranked Colleges
552 Degrees Awarded
$28,800 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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.

Across Iowa, there were 552 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,619 and $32,576 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa” ranking looked at 27 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in communication and media studies. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their communication and media studies program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Communications Rankings Other Ranking Categories

The communications school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa”.

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 in Iowa

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

Top 27 Most Focused Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in Iowa

1
Wartburg crest
Wartburg College
Waverly, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wartburg College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa. Located in Waverly, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Wartburg

2
Central crest
Central College
Pella, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central College. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa. Central is located in Pella, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Central

3
UD crest
University of Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Dubuque. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa. Located in Dubuque, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 24 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Dubuque

4
Drake crest
Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Drake University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa list. Drake is a private not-for-profit institution located in Des Moines, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 41 ’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. 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Drake

5
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa list. Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 216 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Full University of Iowa Communication & Media Studies Report

6
UNI crest
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa ranking. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 62 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 UNI Communication & Media Studies Report

7
Loras crest
Loras College
Dubuque, Iowa

With a ranking of #7, Loras College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa list. Loras is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Loras College Communication & Media Studies Report

8
Luther crest
Luther College
Decorah, Iowa

Luther College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #8. Decorah, Iowa 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.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Luther College

9
Coe crest
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Coe College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa ranking. Coe is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Coe Communication & Media Studies Report

10
Waldorf crest
Waldorf University
Forest City, Iowa

Waldorf University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #10. Waldorf University is a small private for-profit school situated in Forest City, Iowa. It awarded 16 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Waldorf University

11
Morningside crest
Morningside College
Sioux City, Iowa

With a ranking of #11, Morningside College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa list. Sioux City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Morningside Communication & Media Studies Report

12

With a ranking of #12, Graceland University - Lamoni did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa list. Graceland Lamoni is a small school located in Lamoni, Iowa that handed out 6 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Graceland Lamoni

13

Iowa State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school handed out 92 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Iowa State

14
UIU crest
Upper Iowa University
Fayette, Iowa

Upper Iowa University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa ranking. Upper Iowa University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fayette, Iowa. It awarded 13 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Upper Iowa University

15
St. Ambrose University crest
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, Iowa

Saint Ambrose University ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa list. Davenport, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Saint Ambrose University

16
Mount Mercy crest
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mount Mercy University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #16. Mount Mercy University is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Full Mount Mercy Communication & Media Studies Report

17
Dordt crest
Dordt University
Sioux Center, Iowa

Dordt University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa ranking. Dordt is located in Sioux Center, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Dordt University

18
BVU crest
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, Iowa

Buena Vista University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #18. Storm Lake, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at BVU

19
Iowa Western Community College crest
Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs, Iowa

Iowa Western Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa list. Located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, this medium-sized public school awarded 4 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Iowa Western Community College

20
Grand View University crest
Grand View University
Des Moines, Iowa

Grand View University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa ranking. Des Moines, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Grand View University

21
Briar Cliff crest
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, Iowa

Briar Cliff University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa list. Briar Cliff University is located in Sioux City, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 0 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Full Briar Cliff Communication & Media Studies Report

21

Eastern Iowa Community College District landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa ranking. Located in Davenport, Iowa, this medium-sized public school awarded 0 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges

21

With a ranking of #21, Marshalltown Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa list. Marshalltown, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.

Full Marshalltown Community College Communication & Media Studies Report

21

Ellsworth Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa ranking. Ellsworth Community College is located in Iowa Falls, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 0 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Ellsworth Community College

21

With a ranking of #21, Iowa Central Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa list. Fort Dodge, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Iowa Central Community College

21
Clarke crest
Clarke University
Dubuque, Iowa

With a ranking of #21, Clarke University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa list. Dubuque, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Clarke

21

With a ranking of #21, Indian Hills Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in Iowa list. Ottumwa, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at IHCC

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options