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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 62 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for communication & media studies students pursuing a degree.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall communication & media studies education in New York.
Cornell University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in communication & media studies. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cornell University awarded about 78 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $62,182. Typical student debt for the program is $14,418.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Cornell University
Columbia University In The City Of New York 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 New York. About 96% of students finish within six years. 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.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Columbia University In The City Of New York
A rank of #3 makes University At Buffalo one of the top schools for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 288 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University At Buffalo 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.
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Marist College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 175 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Marist College in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Marist College earn a median of $41,818 early in their careers. Marist College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College graduates carry a median of $7,892 in student loans.
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Cuny Graduate School And University Center earned the #6 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public institution. There were roughly 56 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent data 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 ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Troy. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 13 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $77,378 early in their careers. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates carry a median of $24,975 in student loans.
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Suny At Geneseo landed the #8 spot for communication & media studies this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Geneseo. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 52 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Suny At Geneseo in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $41,070 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
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Cuny City College earned the #9 position for communication & media studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of New York. 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. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $42,734. Students borrow a median of $15,827 to complete this degree.
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Fordham University landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 116 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $46,405. Students borrow a median of $25,700 to complete this degree.
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Syracuse University placed #11 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Syracuse University awarded about 107 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $36,767. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Syracuse University
Suffolk County Community College landed the #12 spot for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Selden. Suffolk County Community College awarded about 30 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. Typical student debt for the program is $11,246.
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St Lawrence University placed #13 among the best communication & media studies schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Canton. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. St Lawrence University awarded about 32 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $35,414 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Stony Brook University earned the #14 position for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Stony Brook University graduates 76% of students within six years. About 43 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Stony Brook University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. Stony Brook University graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans.
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Pace University New York ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 148 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Pace University New York in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $35,992 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Manhattan College earned the #16 position for communication & media studies this year. Manhattan College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverdale. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Manhattan College awarded about 58 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Manhattan College generally make around $44,016. Manhattan College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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State University Of New York At New Paltz placed #17 among the best communication & media studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of New Paltz. State University Of New York At New Paltz graduates 72% of students within six years. About 72 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at State University Of New York At New Paltz in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from State University Of New York At New Paltz earn around $29,860 in the first couple years of their career. State University Of New York At New Paltz graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans.
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Hofstra University placed #18 among the best communication & media studies schools. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Hofstra University awarded about 21 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Hofstra University earn around $39,782 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Hofstra University
Cuny Hunter College landed the #19 spot for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 153 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $29,054. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
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Suny College At Cortland earned the #20 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 61 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Cortland in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Suny College At Cortland earn a median of $34,683 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,874 to complete this degree.
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Hobart William Smith Colleges came in at #21 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Geneva, Hobart William Smith Colleges is a small private not-for-profit university. Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates 77% of students within six years. Hobart William Smith Colleges awarded about 27 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Hobart William Smith Colleges earn a median of $50,750 early in their careers. Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Farmingdale State College landed the #22 spot for communication & media studies this year. Farmingdale State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Farmingdale. Farmingdale State College graduates 57% of students within six years. Farmingdale State College awarded about 38 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $50,374 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,528.
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Suny College At Oneonta ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Oneonta. Suny College At Oneonta graduates 69% of students within six years. About 83 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Suny College At Oneonta in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Suny College At Oneonta earn around $27,973 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Cuny Brooklyn College placed #24 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Brooklyn College in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $27,262 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,750.
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Saint John Fisher College earned the #25 position for communication & media studies this year. Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 19 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Saint John Fisher College in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Saint John Fisher College earn a median of $30,233 early in their careers. Saint John Fisher College graduates carry a median of $23,328 in student loans.
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Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong communication & media studies education:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 62 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.
