1,105
Ranked Colleges
53,798
Degrees Awarded
$32,706
Avg Salary
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Communication & Media Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 10th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 66,787 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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.
At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 53,798 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,682 and $26,217 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s” ranking looked at 1,105 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in communication and media studies. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in communication and media studies.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s”.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school handed out 754 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Cal State Fullerton
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, this large public school awarded 637 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Out of the 1,105 schools in the Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 565 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Communication & Media Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Arizona State University - Skysong. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, this large public school awarded 549 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 ASU - Skysong
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Michigan State University. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s. Michigan State is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 506 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 full report on Communication & Media Studies at Michigan State
California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #6. Sac State is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 488 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at California State University - Sacramento
University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s list. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 462 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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 University of California - Santa Barbara
Florida International University ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s list. Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 462 students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at FIU
With a ranking of #9, University of Central Florida did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s list. University of Central Florida is located in Orlando, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 442 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UCF
With a ranking of #10, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 440 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Indiana University - Bloomington
Arizona State University - Tempe came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 439 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, 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 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Arizona State University - Tempe
James Madison University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #12. James Madison University is a large public school situated in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It awarded 433 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at JMU
University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 404 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UW Seattle
With a ranking of #14, Boston University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s list. Boston University is a large school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 397 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 Boston U Communication & Media Studies Report
Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s list. Texas A&M College Station is a public institution located in College Station, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 387 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Texas A&M University - College Station
California State University - Long Beach came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. California State University - Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 377 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at CSULB
University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. USF Tampa is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 376 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of South Florida - Main Campus Communication & Media Studies Report
University at Buffalo ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s list. University at Buffalo is a large school located in Buffalo, New York that handed out 346 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
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 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University at Buffalo
San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #19. San Francisco State University is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 337 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at San Francisco State University
University of Utah came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, this large public school awarded 336 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Utah
With a ranking of #20, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 336 bachelors’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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full USC Communication & Media Studies Report
California State University - Northridge landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s ranking. CSUN is a large public school situated in Northridge, California. It awarded 336 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 full report on Communication & Media Studies at California State University - Northridge
East Carolina University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #23. ECU is located in Greenville, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 317 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.
Full ECU Communication & Media Studies Report
University of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s list. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution located in Amherst, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 317 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UMass Amherst
University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #25. University of Wisconsin - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 316 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UW - Madison