2021 Best Colleges for Communication & Media Studies
Approximately 66,279 communication and media studies degrees were awarded to students last year in the United States. With so many choices it can be difficult finding the best fit for you. This year's Best Colleges for Communication & Media Studies ranking analyzed 504 colleges and universities that offer a bachelor's degree in communication and media studies. We look at over 20 factors to determine the top 15% of schools for Communication & Media Studies students.
Featured schools near , edit
Choosing a Great Communication & Media Studies School
Your choice of communication and media studies school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. To make it into this list a school must excel in the following areas.
Overall Quality is a Must
The overall quality of a school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To take this into account we include a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Over 80% of the schools in this list are in the top 8% of our overall quality ranking while the lowest ranked school on the list is still in the top 11%.
Better Early and Mid Career Salaries
Communication & Media Studies graduates from schools on this list tend to earn more after college than those from other schools. While the average communication and media studies bachelors degree from U.S. colleges results in an average starting salary of $31,626, graduates of colleges on this list average $40,572.
Other Factors We Consider
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
- Major Focus - How much a school focuses on Communication & Media Studies students vs. other majors.
- Major Popularity - How many other communication and media studies students choose this school.
- Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or a recognized communication and media studies related accrediting body.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for Communication & Media Studies students.
Best Schools to Study Communication & Media Studies in the United States
Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for communication and media studies majors. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
Top 25 Best Communications Colleges
University of Pennsylvania is one of the best schools in the United States for communication and media studies. UPenn is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia. A Best Colleges rank of 9 out of 1,715 schools nationwide means UPenn is a great college overall.
For those interested in something more advanced, UPenn also offers 2 different higher degree levels in communication and media studies, the most popular of which is a Doctor's Degree (Research / Scholarship). Communication & Media Studies graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a boost of around $8,828 over the typical earnings of communication and media studies majors.
More… Request Information
University of Southern California is a good decision for students pursuing a Communication & Media Studies degree. USC is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. A Best Colleges rank of 40 out of 1,715 schools nationwide means USC is a great college overall.
For those interested in something more advanced, USC also offers 2 different higher degree levels in communication and media studies, the most popular of which is a Master's Degree. After graduation, communications students generally earn an average of $39,200 in their early careers.
More… Request Information
It is difficult to beat Cornell University if you wish to study communication and media studies. Located in the city Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of 17 out of 1,715 schools nationwide means Cornell is a great college overall.
A preferred major for communication and media studies undergrads, there are approximately 87 individuals studying this program at Cornell. Graduates from the communication and media studies degree program at Cornell University get $6,528 more than the standard college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.
More… Request Information
Every student who is interested in communication and media studies has to take a look at Boston University. Located in the city Boston, Boston U is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of 49 out of 1,715 schools nationwide means Boston U is a great college overall.
For those interested in pursuing a higher degree, Boston U also offers a Master's Degree in communication and media studies. Graduates from the communication and media studies program at Boston University make $2,328 more than the typical college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More… Request Information
Located in the town Greencastle, DePauw is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of 50 out of 1,715 schools nationwide means DePauw is a great school overall.
DePauw University is a fairly popular school to study communications in United States exceeding 89 graduations last year. DePauw University communication and media studies majors earn $2,428 more than the typical communications graduate.
More… Request Information
Located in the suburb College Park, UMCP is a public college with a fairly large student population. This school ranks 117th out of 1,715 schools for overall quality in the state of Maryland.
For those interested in something more advanced, UMCP also offers 2 different higher degree levels in communication and media studies, the most popular of which is a Doctor's Degree (Research / Scholarship). University of Maryland - College Park communication and media studies graduates make $2,728 more than the average communications grad.
More… Request Information
Located in the small city Evanston, Northwestern U is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of 12 out of 1,715 colleges nationwide means Northwestern U is a great school overall.
Northwestern University is a fairly popular college to study communications in United States with over 170 graduates last year. Communication & Media Studies graduates from Northwestern University receive an earnings boost of about $2,028 above the typical earnings of communication and media studies graduates.
More… Request Information
UNC Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. A Best Colleges rank of 60 out of 1,715 schools nationwide means UNC Chapel Hill is a great college overall.
For those interested in something more advanced, UNC Chapel Hill also offers 2 different higher degree levels in communication and media studies, the most popular of which is a Master's Degree. Students who complete this program report average early career income of $33,900.
More… Request Information
Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Chestnut Hill. A Best Colleges rank of 61 out of 1,715 colleges nationwide means Boston College is a great college overall.
A favorite major for communication and media studies undergraduates, there are approximately 221 students studying this degree at Boston College. Boston College communication and media studies students earn $5,128 more than the average communications graduate.
More… Request Information
Located in the large suburb Villanova, Villanova is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of 78 out of 1,715 colleges nationwide means Villanova is a great school overall.
In addition to its bachelor's programs, Villanova offers a Master's Degree in communication and media studies. Students who graduate from the communications program make an average of $42,200 in their early career salary.
More… Request Information
Purdue is a fairly large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. This school ranks 84th out of 1,715 schools for overall quality in the state of Indiana.
There are roughly 431 communication and media studies undergraduates enrolled in this degree at Purdue. Students who graduate from the communications program earn around $36,100 in the first couple years of working.
More… Request Information
Located in the city Champaign, UIUC is a public college with a very large student population. This school ranks 92nd out of 1,715 schools for overall quality in the state of Illinois.
There are approximately 296 communication and media studies undergraduates enrolled in this degree at UIUC. Soon after graduating, communications students usually earn an average of $38,100 in their early careers.
More… Request Information
U of Michigan is a very large public school located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor. A Best Colleges rank of 38 out of 1,715 schools nationwide means U of Michigan is a great school overall.
There are approximately 241 communication and media studies undergraduates enrolled in this degree at U of Michigan. Grads of the communications program report average early career wages of $41,500.
More… Request Information
Michigan State is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. This school ranks 107th out of 1,715 colleges for overall quality in the state of Michigan.
For those interested in something more advanced, Michigan State also offers 2 different higher degree levels in communication and media studies, the most popular of which is a Doctor's Degree (Research / Scholarship). After graduating, communications students generally earn around $36,200 at the beginning of their careers.
More… Request Information
The American University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. This college ranks 164th out of 1,715 colleges for overall quality in the state of District of Columbia.
For those interested in something more advanced, The American University also offers 2 different higher degree levels in communication and media studies, the most popular of which is a Master's Degree. Students who graduate from this degree state that they receive average early career income of $42,100.
More… Request Information
Located in the suburb Fairfield, Fairfield U is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population. This school ranks 185th out of 1,715 schools for overall quality in the state of Connecticut.
For those interested in pursuing a higher degree, Fairfield U also offers a Master's Degree in communication and media studies. Students who graduate from this degree report average early career income of $42,300.
More… Request Information
UCSB is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. This college ranks 133rd out of 1,715 colleges for overall quality in the state of California.
For those interested in something more advanced, UCSB also offers 2 different higher degree levels in communication and media studies, the most popular of which is a Doctor's Degree (Research / Scholarship). Graduates of the communications program earn around $36,300 in their early career salary.
More… Request Information
Located in the city Boston, Northeastern is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population. This college ranks 81st out of 1,715 schools for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.
Northeastern University is one of the most popular school to study communications in United States with over 152 graduates last year. Graduates from the communication and media studies major at Northeastern University earn $4,828 more than the typical graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
More… Request Information
Located in the small city Bloomington, IU Bloomington is a public college with a fairly large student population. This school ranks 141st out of 1,715 colleges for overall quality in the state of Indiana.
For those interested in something more advanced, IU Bloomington also offers 2 different higher degree levels in communication and media studies, the most popular of which is a Doctor's Degree (Research / Scholarship). Graduates of the communications program make around $35,200 in their early career salary.
More… Request Information
U of U is a very large public school located in the midsize city of Salt Lake City. This college ranks 180th out of 1,715 colleges for overall quality in the state of Utah.
There are about 353 communication and media studies undergraduates studying this degree at U of U. Students who graduate from this degree report average early career earnings of $38,300.
More… Request Information
SCU is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. A Best Colleges rank of 68 out of 1,715 colleges nationwide means SCU is a great college overall.
A popular major for communication and media studies undergraduates, there are about 130 learners studying this degree at SCU. Graduates from the communication and media studies degree program at Santa Clara University earn $2,428 more than the average graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
More… Request Information
Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Winston-Salem. A Best Colleges rank of 37 out of 1,715 schools nationwide means Wake Forest University is a great college overall.
For those interested in pursuing a higher degree, Wake Forest University also offers a Master's Degree in communication and media studies. Graduates of the communications program earn around $37,700 in their early career salary.
More… Request Information
Located in the suburb Davis, UC Davis is a public college with a fairly large student population. This college ranks 83rd out of 1,715 colleges for overall quality in the state of California.
A favorite choice for communication and media studies undergraduates, there are roughly 323 learners enrolled in this program at UC Davis. Soon after getting their bachelor's degree, communications students typically make about $37,900 in their early careers.
More… Request Information
UMass Amherst is a very large public school located in the suburb of Amherst. This school ranks 118th out of 1,715 colleges for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.
There are approximately 311 communication and media studies undergrads studying this degree at UMass Amherst. After graduation, communications students typically make an average of $39,200 at the beginning of their careers.
More… Request Information
U of Denver is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Denver. This school ranks 176th out of 1,715 colleges for overall quality in the state of Colorado.
A preferred major for communication and media studies undergraduates, there are about 182 students enrolled in this degree at U of Denver. Soon after getting their bachelor's degree, communications students usually earn about $35,700 in their early careers.
More… Request InformationRest of the Top 50 Best Colleges for Communication & Media Studies
Additional Award Winners
This list shows the remainder of the schools awarded a Best Colleges for Communication & Media Studies badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 504 different United States communication and media studies schools we analyzed.
Honorable Mentions
Here are some additional great schools for Communication & Media Studies students that almost earned our Best Colleges for Communication & Media Studies award.
Communication & Media Studies by Region
View the Best Colleges for Communication & Media Studies for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
Rankings in Majors Related to Communications
One of 5 majors within the Communication & Journalism area of study, Communication & Media Studies has other similar majors worth exploring.
Most Popular Majors Related to Communications
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Relations & Advertising | 20,156 |
| Radio, Television & Digital Communication | 16,150 |
| Journalism | 15,466 |
| Communication & Journalism (Other) | 1,784 |
| Publishing | 297 |
View All Communications Related Majors >
Notes and References
- The bars on the spread charts above show the distribution of the schools on this list +/- one standard deviation from the mean.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to UNU-WIDER from Helsinki, Finland. More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |
Request Info
|
Purdue University
Building on Purdue’s mission to provide greater access to affordable, world-class education, Purdue University Global delivers a fully personalized online experience that’s tailored to working adults. By opening the doors to adults who need flexibility to fit learning into their busy lives, we make it possible to achieve a high-quality education from the prestigious Purdue University system—completely online ... Learn More > |
Request Info
|
Grand Canyon University (GCU)
With a spotlight on intellectual creativity and innovation for the 21stcentury, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at GCU provides a job focused education. It blends the study of traditional humanities in a modern context. Through academic inquiry and beyond the box thinking, the college advances our society and its accomplishments ... Learn More > |
Request Info
|
Northcentral University
Northcentral University (NCU) was founded to provide accessible, high-quality, online graduate degrees to working professionals. As a regionally accredited, online university, NCU serves students worldwide, focusing on Doctoral and Master's degree programs in the Schools of Business and Technology Management, Education, Psychology, and Marriage and Family Sciences ... Learn More > |
Request Info
|
Colorado Technical University (CTU)
CTU could help you connect to what matters most: a powerful professional community, aculty who are real-world professionals, and innovative technology ... Learn More > |
College Factual provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© College Factual – All Rights Reserved.
,_Helsinki_Finland_(11643271925).jpg){kind=link}