Communication & Media Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 169 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 University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill this year for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. About 544 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $49,991 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #2. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 112 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $47,368. Students borrow a median of $21,230 to complete this degree.
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James Madison University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. About 80% of students finish within six years. James Madison University awarded about 305 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $42,769 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,502.
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Wake Forest University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 160 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $42,055 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 308 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $44,309. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $20,613 in student loans.
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George Mason University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. George Mason University awarded about 143 communication & media studies degrees 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 Florida placed #7 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 321 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $58,996 in their early career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans.
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Elon University earned the #8 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Elon University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Elon University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Elon University earn around $48,637 in the first couple years of their career. Elon University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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The University Of Tennessee ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 237 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $41,258. Typical student debt for the program is $20,875.
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University Of Miami placed #10 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 54 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $57,234 in their early career. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #11 for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 207 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $39,889 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,324.
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Vanderbilt University placed #12 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 19 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $77,997 in their early career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
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University Of Georgia earned the #13 position for communication & media studies this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 207 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $38,717 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Mary Washington landed the #14 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 33 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Mary Washington in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Mary Washington earn around $43,243 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,825 to complete this degree.
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High Point University came in at #15 for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of High Point. High Point University graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 90 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at High Point University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. Students borrow a median of $23,785 to complete this degree.
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Auburn University earned the #16 position for communication & media studies this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. Auburn University awarded about 99 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $35,929 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,675 to complete this degree.
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University Of Arkansas placed #17 among the best communication & media studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fayetteville. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 233 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Arkansas earn around $40,095 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,165 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Alabama landed the #18 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. The University Of Alabama graduates 73% of students within six years. The University Of Alabama awarded about 249 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,351 early in their careers. The University Of Alabama graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Tulane University Of Louisiana earned the #19 position for communication & media studies this year. Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates 86% of students within six years. About 146 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Tulane University Of Louisiana earn around $33,428 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,082 to complete this degree.
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Furman University came in at #20 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 34 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Furman University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $41,766 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,631 to complete this degree.
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University Of Kentucky earned the #21 position for communication & media studies this year. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. There were roughly 250 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kentucky in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $39,311 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,875.
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University Of Central Florida ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. There were roughly 439 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $37,021. Students borrow a median of $21,854 to complete this degree.
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Davidson College earned the #23 position for communication & media studies this year. Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Davidson. Davidson College graduates 91% of students within six years. Davidson College awarded about 17 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $41,505 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,906 to complete this degree.
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Samford University landed the #24 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. Samford University awarded about 15 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $39,690 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,039.
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Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach placed #25 among the best communication & media studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Daytona Beach. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach graduates 66% of students within six years. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $70,246 in their early career. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach graduates carry a median of $22,845 in student loans.
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These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communication & media studies ranking:
Honorable Mentions
These schools earned honorable mentions for communication & media studies:
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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 · 169 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.