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 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 18 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.
No school ranked higher than Oregon State University this year for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. About 70% of students finish within six years. Oregon State University awarded about 20 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $40,737. Oregon State University graduates carry a median of $21,740 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Oregon State University
University Of Oregon is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 48 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Oregon in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $33,165 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Oregon
A rank of #3 makes Western Oregon University one of the top schools for communication & media studies. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Monmouth. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Western Oregon University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Western Oregon University generally make around $37,600. Students borrow a median of $21,316 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Western Oregon University
Lewis And Clark College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #4. Located in the city of Portland, Lewis And Clark College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Lewis And Clark College awarded about 24 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Lewis And Clark College generally make around $17,707. Lewis And Clark College graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Lewis And Clark College
Portland State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 61 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Portland State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $35,143. Portland State University graduates carry a median of $24,582 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Portland State University
Southern Oregon University placed #6 among the best communication & media studies schools. Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Ashland. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. Southern Oregon University awarded about 33 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Southern Oregon University generally make around $30,422. Southern Oregon University graduates carry a median of $23,584 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Southern Oregon University
Eastern Oregon University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Eastern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of La Grande. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. Eastern Oregon University awarded about 14 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Eastern Oregon University earn a median of $37,143 early in their careers. Eastern Oregon University graduates carry a median of $29,801 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Eastern Oregon University
Willamette University landed the #8 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Salem, Willamette University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Willamette University graduates 71% of students within six years. Willamette University awarded about 11 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Willamette University generally make around $31,472. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Willamette University
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 18 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.
