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 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 176 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for communication & media studies students pursuing a degree.
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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.
University Of California Davis tops our 2026 ranking of the best communication & media studies schools. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Davis awarded about 258 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $42,569. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000.
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University Of California Los Angeles is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 232 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $63,833 early in their careers. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top schools for communication & media studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 226 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $43,696. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $11,180 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at University Of California Santa Barbara, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 597 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $46,598 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,018 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #5. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Stanford University awarded about 21 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $69,670 in their early career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 497 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $58,119 in their early career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $17,702 in student loans.
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Chapman University came in at #7 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 91 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Chapman University earn around $44,601 in the first couple years of their career. Chapman University graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #8 position for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 86 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $62,183 early in their careers. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $14,928 in student loans.
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San Jose State University came in at #9 for communication & media studies this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 206 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Pepperdine University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 14 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $48,398 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,667.
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Santa Clara University came in at #11 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. Santa Clara University awarded about 104 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Santa Clara University earn around $51,720 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
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California State University Sacramento landed the #12 spot for communication & media studies this year. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. California State University Sacramento awarded about 372 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $39,304. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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Loyola Marymount University came in at #13 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 105 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $41,113. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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San Diego State University came in at #14 for communication & media studies this year. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 334 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $44,130 early in their careers. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $15,675 in student loans.
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San Francisco State University earned the #15 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 215 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from San Francisco State University earn around $40,790 in the first couple years of their career. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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California State University Fullerton came in at #16 for communication & media studies this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 625 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $40,251. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
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University Of California San Diego placed #17 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California San Diego awarded about 228 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $33,046 early in their careers. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $14,568 in student loans.
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University Of San Francisco earned the #18 position for communication & media studies this year. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 98 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of San Francisco earn around $39,000 in the first couple years of their career. University Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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California State University Long Beach earned the #19 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. California State University Long Beach awarded about 355 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $34,172 in their early career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $13,953 in student loans.
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California State University Chico landed the #20 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 92 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at California State University Chico in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $38,421 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,098.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Pomona. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 132 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn around $32,852 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,267.
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Saint Marys College Of California landed the #22 spot for communication & media studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Moraga. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Marys College Of California awarded about 34 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Saint Marys College Of California generally make around $35,356. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Saint Marys College Of California
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #23 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. About 27 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $80,047 in the first couple years of their career. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans.
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Pomona College earned the #24 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Pomona College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Pomona College generally make around $75,954.
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California State University East Bay placed #25 among the best communication & media studies schools. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. About 48% of students finish within six years. California State University East Bay awarded about 96 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $35,722. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete this degree.
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These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communication & media studies ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 176 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.
