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2023 Most Popular Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in the Southwest Region

35 Ranked Colleges
641 Degrees Awarded
$40,014 Avg Salary
Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master's

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 66,787 communication and media studies students received their degree, making the major the 10th most popular in the country. 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 the Southwest region, there were 6,936 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,822 and $25,371 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 641 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,204 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s” ranking looked at 35 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in communication and media studies. To top this list, a school must have a successful communication and media studies program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools 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 in the Southwest Region for a Master’s

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s”.

1

Out of the 35 schools in the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #1 spot on the list. Arizona State University - Skysong is a large school located in Scottsdale, Arizona that handed out 163 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at ASU - Skysong

2
Grand Canyon University crest
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, Arizona

Out of the 35 schools in the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Grand Canyon University landed the #2 spot on the list. Phoenix, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 115 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

3
Texas Tech crest
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas Tech University. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s. This large school is located in Lubbock, Texas, and it awarded 68 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, 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 87%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Texas Tech

4
Texas State crest
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas State University. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s. Located in San Marcos, Texas, this large public school awarded 29 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Texas State University

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas Southern University. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s. Texas Southern University is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 27 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at TSU

6

Baylor University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s ranking. Baylor is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Waco, Texas. It awarded 19 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Baylor University

6

Arizona State University - Tempe came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s ranking. ASU - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at ASU - Tempe

8

Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s ranking. This small school is located in Portales, New Mexico, and it awarded 17 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus

8

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s ranking. Located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, this large public school awarded 17 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at OSU

10

University of the Incarnate Word landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s ranking. UIW is located in San Antonio, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UIW

11

The University of Texas at San Antonio ranked #11 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s list. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a large public school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 14 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UTSA Communication & Media Studies Report

12

With a ranking of #12, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s list. UT Rio Grande Valley is a large school located in Edinburg, Texas that handed out 12 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.

Full UT Rio Grande Valley Communication & Media Studies Report

13

University of North Texas landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s ranking. Denton, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of North Texas

13

Stephen F Austin State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #13. SFASU is a fairly large school located in Nacogdoches, Texas that handed out 10 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Full SFASU Communication & Media Studies Report

13
Tarleton crest
Tarleton State University
Stephenville, Texas

Tarleton State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #13. Tarleton is located in Stephenville, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Tarleton State University

13
NAU crest
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona

Northern Arizona University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s list. Located in Flagstaff, Arizona, this large public school awarded 10 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 NAU

17

Texas Christian University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s ranking. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 8 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at TCU

17
University of Arizona crest
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

With a ranking of #17, University of Arizona did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s list. Located in Tucson, Arizona, this large public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Arizona

19

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s ranking. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi is a fairly large school located in Corpus Christi, Texas that handed out 7 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Texas A&M Corpus Christi

19

New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #19. Las Cruces, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at New Mexico State University - Main Campus

21

With a ranking of #21, Sam Houston State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s list. Sam Houston State University is a public institution located in Huntsville, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Sam Houston State University

21

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #21. This large school is located in Norman, Oklahoma, and it awarded 6 masters’s communications degrees 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%. 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 University of Oklahoma

21
Angelo State crest
Angelo State University
San Angelo, Texas

Angelo State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s ranking. Located in San Angelo, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2020-2021.

Full Angelo State University Communication & Media Studies Report

24

West Texas A&M University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #24. West Texas A&M University is a public institution located in Canyon, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full West Texas A&M University Communication & Media Studies Report

24

Dallas Baptist University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s ranking. Dallas, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Dallas Baptist University

24
UH crest
University of Houston
Houston, Texas

University of Houston came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Southwest Region for a Master’s ranking. UH is a large school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 5 masters’s communications degrees 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Houston

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