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.
College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best communication & media studies schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall communication & media studies education in Ohio.
No school ranked higher than Ohio State University Main Campus this year for communication & media studies. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 452 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $41,232 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,500.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at University Of Dayton, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of Dayton graduates 80% of students within six years. University Of Dayton awarded about 163 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $42,629 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,375.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Dayton
A rank of #3 makes Miami University Oxford one of the top schools for communication & media studies. This very large public university is located in the town of Oxford. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Miami University Oxford awarded about 56 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $34,959. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Miami University Oxford
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Denison University, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Denison University graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 50 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Denison University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Denison University earn a median of $47,396 early in their careers. Denison University graduates carry a median of $25,187 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Denison University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 207 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $39,953 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,869 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 306 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $36,666 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,063.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Ohio University Main Campus
John Carroll University landed the #7 spot for communication & media studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of University Heights. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 36 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at John Carroll University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of John Carroll University earn a median of $41,072 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at John Carroll University
The College Of Wooster ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Wooster. The College Of Wooster graduates 74% of students within six years. The College Of Wooster awarded about 19 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from The College Of Wooster earn around $39,527 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,681.
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University Of Akron Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. About 52% of students finish within six years. University Of Akron Main Campus awarded about 38 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $49,045 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,347.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Akron Main Campus
Xavier University placed #10 among the best communication & media studies schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cincinnati. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Xavier University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $39,771 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,825 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Xavier University
Otterbein University came in at #11 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Otterbein University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Otterbein University earn a median of $31,207 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Otterbein University
Kent State University At Kent ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kent. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 122 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Kent State University At Kent earn around $35,804 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Blue Ash, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public university. University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College awarded about 18 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $38,767 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,922 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College
Cedarville University earned the #14 position for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Cedarville. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Cedarville University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Cedarville University earn around $57,104 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,110.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Cedarville University
Sinclair Community College came in at #15 for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Dayton. Sinclair Community College awarded about 24 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $32,284. Sinclair Community College graduates carry a median of $11,944 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Sinclair Community College
Wittenberg University earned the #16 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Wittenberg University is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wittenberg University awarded about 11 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Wittenberg University earn around $36,715 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Miami University Hamilton landed the #17 spot for communication & media studies this year. Miami University Hamilton is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Hamilton. About 24% of students finish within six years. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Miami University Hamilton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Miami University Hamilton generally make around $34,959. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Toledo came in at #18 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. University Of Toledo graduates 58% of students within six years. University Of Toledo awarded about 48 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $30,591. Typical student debt for the program is $25,500.
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Wright State University Main Campus placed #19 among the best communication & media studies schools. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. Wright State University Main Campus awarded about 28 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $33,171. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Wright State University Main Campus
Franciscan University Of Steubenville came in at #20 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Steubenville, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 75% of students finish within six years. Franciscan University Of Steubenville awarded about 21 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Franciscan University Of Steubenville generally make around $33,991. Students borrow a median of $24,953 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Franciscan University Of Steubenville
Cleveland State University earned the #21 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. There were roughly 38 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Cleveland State University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $29,618 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Cleveland State University
Heidelberg University placed #22 among the best communication & media studies schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Tiffin. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Heidelberg University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Heidelberg University earn a median of $42,334 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Heidelberg University
Ashland University came in at #23 for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Ashland. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 29 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Ashland University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $25,465 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $2,625 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Ashland University
Ohio University Lancaster Campus placed #24 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the rural area of Lancaster, Ohio University Lancaster Campus is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 11% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Lancaster Campus in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Ohio University Lancaster Campus earn a median of $36,666 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,063.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Ohio University Lancaster Campus
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 24 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.