Communication & Media Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. 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 14 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 Auburn University this year for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Auburn University awarded about 99 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Auburn University earn around $35,929 in the first couple years of their career. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $20,675 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Auburn University
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at The University Of Alabama, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. There were roughly 249 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Alabama 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.
See the full communication & media studies program report for The University Of Alabama
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Samford University, which ranked #3. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Birmingham. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 15 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Samford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $39,690. Students borrow a median of $21,039 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Samford University
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at University Of West Alabama, which ranked #4. This large public university is located in the rural area of Livingston. The six-year graduation rate is 28%. About 45 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of West Alabama in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of West Alabama generally make around $53,270. University Of West Alabama graduates carry a median of $31,894 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of West Alabama
A rank of #5 makes Troy University one of the top schools for communication & media studies. Located in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public university. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Troy University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Troy University generally make around $40,859. Troy University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Troy University
Tuskegee University came in at #6 for communication & media studies this year. Tuskegee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Tuskegee. Tuskegee University graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Tuskegee University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Tuskegee University earn around $48,198 in the first couple years of their career. Tuskegee University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Tuskegee University
University Of Mobile earned the #7 position for communication & media studies this year. University Of Mobile is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Mobile. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Mobile in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Mobile generally make around $50,507. Typical student debt for the program is $30,127.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Mobile
University Of Alabama At Birmingham came in at #8 for communication & media studies this year. University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public school located in the city of Birmingham. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 93 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Alabama At Birmingham in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham generally make around $39,139. University Of Alabama At Birmingham graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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University Of North Alabama came in at #9 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Alabama in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of North Alabama earn a median of $30,182 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Alabama At Huntsville ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Huntsville. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Alabama At Huntsville in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Huntsville generally make around $41,713. University Of Alabama At Huntsville graduates carry a median of $24,797 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Alabama At Huntsville
Jacksonville State University came in at #11 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Jacksonville State University awarded about 30 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $35,147 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,750 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Jacksonville State University
University Of South Alabama ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. University Of South Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Mobile. About 52% of students finish within six years. About 28 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of South Alabama in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of South Alabama earn a median of $30,153 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of South Alabama
Auburn University At Montgomery ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Montgomery. About 33% of students finish within six years. About 10 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Auburn University At Montgomery in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Auburn University At Montgomery earn a median of $31,354 early in their careers. Auburn University At Montgomery graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Auburn University At Montgomery
Alabama State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Montgomery, Alabama State University is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 30% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Alabama State University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Alabama State University earn a median of $21,996 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $32,750.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Alabama State University
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 14 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.
