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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 140 schools to find the best for communication & media studies students.
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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 Johns Hopkins University this year for communication & media studies. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 212 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent 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.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Johns Hopkins University
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 72 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $53,022. Students borrow a median of $15,637 to complete this degree.
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University Of Maryland College Park is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #3. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 273 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $43,696 in their early career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
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Cornell University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 78 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $62,182 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,418.
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University Of Delaware is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #5. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. University Of Delaware graduates 82% of students within six years. University Of Delaware awarded about 261 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Delaware earn around $41,897 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates 84% of students within six years. About 280 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $43,649 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Rutgers University New Brunswick
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 77 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $93,452 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
Villanova University came in at #8 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 153 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Villanova University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $51,574 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,456.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Villanova University
University At Buffalo came in at #9 for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Buffalo. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. University At Buffalo awarded about 288 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $39,226. Typical student debt for the program is $22,251.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University At Buffalo
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 73 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
American University landed the #11 spot for communication & media studies this year. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 78 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of American University earn a median of $52,640 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,611 to complete this degree.
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The College Of New Jersey placed #12 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 74 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from The College Of New Jersey generally make around $37,151. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
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George Washington University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from George Washington University earn around $50,552 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from George Washington University
Marist College landed the #14 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 175 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Marist College in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Marist College earn a median of $41,818 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earned the #15 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 93 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $36,367 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,892 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Graduate School And University Center placed #16 among the best communication & media studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of New York. About 56 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $57,782 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,125 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Cuny Graduate School And University Center
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #17 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute generally make around $77,378. Typical student debt for the program is $24,975.
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Suny At Geneseo landed the #18 spot for communication & media studies this year. Suny At Geneseo is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Geneseo. About 71% of students finish within six years. Suny At Geneseo awarded about 52 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Suny At Geneseo generally make around $41,070. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #19 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 159 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $39,051 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Towson University earned the #20 position for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Towson. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Towson University awarded about 88 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Towson University earn a median of $42,657 early in their careers. Towson University graduates carry a median of $20,309 in student loans.
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Cuny City College came in at #21 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Cuny City College graduates 57% of students within six years. Cuny City College awarded about 73 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $42,734 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,827.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Cuny City College
Fordham University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 116 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Fordham University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $46,405. Typical student debt for the program is $25,700.
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Loyola University Baltimore came in at #23 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Loyola University Baltimore is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 54 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Loyola University Baltimore in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Loyola University Baltimore generally make around $42,640. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Loyola University Baltimore
Syracuse University placed #24 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 107 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Syracuse University earn around $36,767 in the first couple years of their career. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Suffolk County Community College placed #25 among the best communication & media studies schools. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. There were roughly 30 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Suffolk County Community College earn around $35,667 in the first couple years of their career. Suffolk County Community College graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans.
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These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communication & media studies ranking:
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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 · 140 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.
