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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1403 schools to find the best for communication & media studies students.
Leading the list is Johns Hopkins University, our #1 school for communication & media studies. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 262 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $82,754. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
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University Of Southern California came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 251 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $68,587 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,702.
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George Mason University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $63,131 early in their careers. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 126 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $47,368 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,230.
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A rank of #5 makes Clemson University one of the top schools for communication & media studies. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Clemson. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Clemson University earn around $53,834 in the first couple years of their career. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $23,783 in student loans.
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San Jose State University came in at #6 for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 29 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Purdue University Main Campus placed #7 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 78 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $70,112 in the first couple years of their career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #8 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 18 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $56,634 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #9 among the best communication & media studies schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 261 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $44,309 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $20,613 in student loans.
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University Of Florida earned the #10 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of Florida awarded about 322 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Florida earn around $58,996 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,669.
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James Madison University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. James Madison University awarded about 16 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from James Madison University earn around $42,769 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,502 to complete this degree.
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San Diego State University earned the #12 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. About 34 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from San Diego State University earn around $50,487 in the first couple years of their career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $15,675 in student loans.
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American University placed #13 among the best communication & media studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 50 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from American University generally make around $68,299. American University graduates carry a median of $22,611 in student loans.
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California State University Fullerton earned the #14 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $46,382 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #15 for communication & media studies this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. About 59 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $93,452. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Tennessee ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 237 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $41,258 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $20,875 in student loans.
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The University Of Alabama landed the #17 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. The University Of Alabama awarded about 70 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from The University Of Alabama earn around $59,911 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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California State University Sacramento placed #18 among the best communication & media studies schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 15 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $39,304 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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Northeastern University Global Network came in at #19 for communication & media studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. There were roughly 57 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University Global Network in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Northeastern University Global Network earn a median of $58,317 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Auburn University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 58 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $35,929 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,675 to complete this degree.
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University Of Dayton earned the #21 position for communication & media studies this year. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dayton in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $42,629 early in their careers. University Of Dayton graduates carry a median of $25,375 in student loans.
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University Of San Francisco landed the #22 spot for communication & media studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Francisco. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 58 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $39,000 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Baylor University landed the #23 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Baylor University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $43,740 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,860.
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Weber State University landed the #24 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. About 33 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Weber State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $67,928. Weber State University graduates carry a median of $16,566 in student loans.
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San Francisco State University earned the #25 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. There were roughly 11 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $40,790 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Communication & Media Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communication & media studies ranking:
This list is compiled 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 · 1403 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).
