Communication & Media Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their communication & media studies programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 134 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for communication & media studies students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
See the highest-ranked communication & media studies schools offering a associate’s degree below.
Leading the list is Santa Rosa Junior College, our #1 school for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. There were roughly 38 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans.
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West Valley College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. About 49 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at West Valley College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. Typical student debt for the program is $14,308.
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Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Austin Community College District, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. There were roughly 28 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Austin Community College District in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,519 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Austin Community College District
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at College Of The Canyons, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. There were roughly 53 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Canyons in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $51,913 in their early career. College Of The Canyons graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Suffolk County Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 30 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,246.
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De Anza College placed #6 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a very large public institution. De Anza College awarded about 63 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. De Anza College graduates carry a median of $7,271 in student loans.
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Saddleback College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. There were roughly 122 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Saddleback College in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. Saddleback College graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans.
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Weber State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Weber State University awarded about 25 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Weber State University earn a median of $55,569 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,566 to complete this degree.
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Orange Coast College earned the #9 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. There were roughly 94 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Orange Coast College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Orange Coast College generally make around $46,306. Typical student debt for the program is $8,978.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Orange Coast College
Santa Barbara City College placed #10 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College is a large public university. Santa Barbara City College awarded about 242 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Santa Barbara City College generally make around $68,184. Typical student debt for the program is $21,090.
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Cerritos College landed the #11 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. There were roughly 44 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Cerritos College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Cerritos College earn around $29,495 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete this degree.
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Evergreen Valley College earned the #12 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of San Jose, Evergreen Valley College is a large public university. About 14 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Evergreen Valley College in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $82,879 in their early career. Evergreen Valley College graduates carry a median of $12,981 in student loans.
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Moorpark College came in at #13 for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Moorpark. There were roughly 71 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Moorpark College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Typical student debt for the program is $17,075.
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Foothill College earned the #14 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public university. There were roughly 47 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Foothill College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $94,152 in their early career. Foothill College graduates carry a median of $11,595 in student loans.
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Santa Ana College earned the #15 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. About 41 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Santa Ana College in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $39,633 early in their careers. Santa Ana College graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans.
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Latter Day Saints Business College landed the #16 spot for communication & media studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Salt Lake City. Latter Day Saints Business College awarded about 68 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year.
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Riverside City College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 49 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Riverside City College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Riverside City College generally make around $37,102. Typical student debt for the program is $8,767.
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San Diego Mesa College landed the #18 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 34 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at San Diego Mesa College in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete this degree.
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College Of San Mateo landed the #19 spot for communication & media studies this year. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. There were roughly 59 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at College Of San Mateo in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $12,831.
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Miracosta College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Oceanside, Miracosta College is a large public university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 48 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Miracosta College in the most recent data year.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Miracosta College
Sacramento City College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Sacramento City College is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. Sacramento City College awarded about 33 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Sacramento City College earn around $46,522 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,180 to complete this degree.
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Fresno City College placed #22 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. About 23 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Fresno City College in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Fresno City College earn around $37,470 in the first couple years of their career. Fresno City College graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans.
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Mt San Antonio College earned the #23 position for communication & media studies this year. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Mt San Antonio College awarded about 82 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $44,391 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,384.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Mt San Antonio College
Salt Lake Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. About 43 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Salt Lake Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Salt Lake Community College earn around $42,031 in the first couple years of their career. Salt Lake Community College graduates carry a median of $12,220 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Salt Lake Community College
Skyline College landed the #25 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public institution. About 23 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Skyline College in the most recent year.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Skyline College
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communication & media studies ranking:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Communication & Media Studies rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 134 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
