Communication & Media Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their communication & media studies programs.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best communication & media studies schools.
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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.
Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Madison the best school in the country for a degree in communication & media studies. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 326 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $37,286 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 80 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn around $40,293 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates carry a median of $24,455 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse
Marquette University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. Marquette University graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Marquette University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $36,443 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,531.
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University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire awarded about 34 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $40,333. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates carry a median of $22,730 in student loans.
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Carroll University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #5. Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waukesha. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Carroll University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Carroll University generally make around $52,404. Typical student debt for the program is $26,904.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Carroll University
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater placed #6 among the best communication & media studies schools. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 137 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $39,367. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh landed the #7 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh awarded about 34 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $40,673 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,534.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #8 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 146 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn around $38,040 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Beloit College placed #9 among the best communication & media studies schools. Beloit College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Beloit. Beloit College graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Beloit College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $33,499 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,998 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin River Falls earned the #10 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public university. University Of Wisconsin River Falls graduates 57% of students within six years. About 18 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin River Falls in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn around $38,309 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,212.
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Saint Norbert College landed the #11 spot for communication & media studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of De Pere. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 29 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Saint Norbert College in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Saint Norbert College earn a median of $38,287 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,262 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Saint Norbert College
Carthage College earned the #12 position for communication & media studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Kenosha. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 14 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Carthage College in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Carthage College earn around $33,580 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point placed #13 among the best communication & media studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Stevens Point. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point awarded about 31 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $35,724 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,990.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Edgewood College landed the #14 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Madison, Edgewood College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 60% of students finish within six years. Edgewood College awarded about 13 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Edgewood College earn a median of $42,950 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Edgewood College
University Of Wisconsin Parkside landed the #15 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the rural area of Kenosha, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public university. University Of Wisconsin Parkside graduates 40% of students within six years. About 46 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Parkside in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Parkside generally make around $37,107. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Wisconsin Parkside
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Green Bay. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay graduates 53% of students within six years. About 35 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Green Bay in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn around $37,807 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,625 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Superior earned the #17 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Superior, University Of Wisconsin Superior is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Superior awarded about 18 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $41,371 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Superior graduates carry a median of $28,500 in student loans.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 17 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.