Communication & Media Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 800 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for communication & media studies students pursuing a degree.
Choosing a Great Communication & Media Studies School
The communication & media studies program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Communication & Media Studies Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Communication & Media Studies Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Communication & Media Studies in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the communication & media studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, our #1 school for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 544 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $49,991 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Boston College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 202 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Boston College earn around $55,162 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Boston College
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 278 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $43,696 in their early career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $11,180 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of California Berkeley
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the top schools for communication & media studies. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 225 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $63,833. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of California Los Angeles
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. About 220 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $50,556. Typical student debt for the program is $20,376.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Southern Methodist University earned the #6 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Southern Methodist University awarded about 35 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $70,632 early in their careers. Southern Methodist University graduates carry a median of $20,712 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Southern Methodist University
University Of California Davis earned the #7 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 265 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $42,569 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of California Davis
Johns Hopkins University came in at #8 for communication & media studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 212 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $82,754 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Johns Hopkins University
University Of Pennsylvania placed #9 among the best communication & media studies schools. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 72 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $53,022. Students borrow a median of $15,637 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of Pennsylvania
Stanford University earned the #10 position for communication & media studies this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $69,670. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Stanford University
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #11 position for communication & media studies this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 112 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $47,368 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,230 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of California Santa Barbara placed #12 among the best communication & media studies schools. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 618 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $46,598 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,018.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #13 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 273 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $43,696 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Maryland College Park
James Madison University earned the #14 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. James Madison University awarded about 305 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $42,769. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $21,502 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for James Madison University
Wake Forest University came in at #15 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 160 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $42,055 early in their careers. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Wake Forest University
University Of Southern California landed the #16 spot for communication & media studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 440 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $58,119 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,702.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Southern California
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #17 for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 308 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $44,309 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,613.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Cornell University landed the #18 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 78 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $62,182 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,418 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Cornell University
George Mason University earned the #19 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 143 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $63,131 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for George Mason University
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #20 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 236 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $43,848 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at The University Of Texas At Austin
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #21 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. About 730 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $43,295 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,782.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Texas A And M University College Station
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 246 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $59,776 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #23 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. About 215 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $44,078 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Missouri Columbia
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #24 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 238 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $37,808 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Northwestern University came in at #25 for communication & media studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 84 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $69,611 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $18,112 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Northwestern University
Rest of the Top 50 Communication & Media Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong communication & media studies education:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 800 schools evaluated.
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 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).
