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2027 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region

169 Colleges in the United States
12,122 Communication & Media Studies Degrees Awarded
$38,641 Avg Early-Career Salary

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.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Communication & Media Studies in the Southeast Region

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.

Top Schools in Communication & Media Studies

1

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. Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

2

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. Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Virginia Main Campus

3
James Madison University crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA

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. Get the full communication & media studies details for James Madison University

4
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC

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. See the full communication & media studies program report for Wake Forest University

5

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. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

6

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. See the full communication & media studies program report for George Mason University

7
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

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. Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Florida

8

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. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Elon University

9

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. Get the full communication & media studies details for The University Of Tennessee

10
University Of Miami crest
University Of Miami
Coral Gables, FL

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. Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Miami

11

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. Read more about the communication & media studies program at North Carolina State University At Raleigh

12
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

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. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Vanderbilt University

13

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. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Georgia

14
University Of Mary Washington crest
University Of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA

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. Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Mary Washington

15
High Point University crest
High Point University
High Point, NC

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. See the full communication & media studies program report for High Point University

16
Auburn University crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL

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. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Auburn University

17
University Of Arkansas crest
University Of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR

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. Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of Arkansas

18

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. Get the full communication & media studies details for The University Of Alabama

19

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. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Tulane University Of Louisiana

20
Furman University crest
Furman University
Greenville, SC

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. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Furman University

21

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. Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Kentucky

22

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. Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Central Florida

23
Davidson College crest
Davidson College
Davidson, NC

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. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Davidson College

24
Samford University crest
Samford University
Birmingham, AL

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. Get the full communication & media studies details for Samford University

25

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. Get the full communication & media studies details for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach

Rest of the Top 50 Communication & Media Studies Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communication & media studies ranking:

26
27
28
College Of Charleston crest
College Of Charleston
Charleston, SC
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
Belmont University crest
Belmont University
Nashville, TN
46
Marymount University crest
Marymount University
Arlington, VA
47
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA
48
Longwood University crest
Longwood University
Farmville, VA
49
50

Honorable Mentions

These schools earned honorable mentions for communication & media studies:

View All Communication & Media Studies Rankings >

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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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