Communication & Media Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 37 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.
Leading the list is Purdue University Main Campus, our #1 school for communication & media studies. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 243 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $59,776. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Purdue University Main Campus
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. About 355 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $36,700 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Indianapolis. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 55 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $39,775 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Depauw University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #4. Set in the town of Greencastle, Depauw University is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 47 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Depauw University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Depauw University earn a median of $43,141 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Depauw University
Ball State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 42 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Ball State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $33,815. Typical student debt for the program is $21,550.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Ball State University
Valparaiso University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Valparaiso, Valparaiso University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Valparaiso University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Valparaiso University earn around $35,164 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Valparaiso University
Indiana University Kokomo came in at #7 for communication & media studies this year. Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Kokomo. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. Indiana University Kokomo awarded about 13 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $31,085 in their early career. Indiana University Kokomo graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Indiana University Kokomo
Hanover College landed the #8 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Hanover, Hanover College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Hanover College awarded about 19 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Hanover College earn a median of $31,621 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Hanover College
Saint Marys College earned the #9 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, Saint Marys College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Marys College awarded about 18 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Saint Marys College generally make around $32,322. Saint Marys College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earned the #10 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 13 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global generally make around $53,752. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global graduates carry a median of $32,807 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global
Indiana State University earned the #11 position for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Terre Haute. Indiana State University graduates 43% of students within six years. Indiana State University awarded about 37 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Indiana State University generally make around $34,213. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Indiana State University
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earned the #12 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. There were roughly 26 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $39,712 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,289.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne
University Of Indianapolis landed the #13 spot for communication & media studies this year. University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 20 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Indianapolis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $33,054 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Indianapolis
Indiana University East landed the #14 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Richmond, Indiana University East is a moderately-sized public institution. Indiana University East graduates 39% of students within six years. There were roughly 36 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University East in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Indiana University East generally make around $37,463. Indiana University East graduates carry a median of $24,462 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Indiana University East
Indiana University South Bend landed the #15 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. About 20 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Indiana University South Bend in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Indiana University South Bend earn around $38,094 in the first couple years of their career. Indiana University South Bend graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Indiana University South Bend
Indiana University Southeast ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of New Albany, Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. About 14 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Indiana University Southeast in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Indiana University Southeast earn around $26,777 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Indiana University Southeast
Purdue University Northwest earned the #17 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. Purdue University Northwest awarded about 59 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Purdue University Northwest earn a median of $25,541 early in their careers. Purdue University Northwest graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Purdue University Northwest
More Communication & Media Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 37 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.
