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 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools to find the best for communication & media studies students.
What’s on this page:
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.
Our analysis ranked Mississippi State University the best school in the country for a degree in communication & media studies. Mississippi State University is a very large public school located in the town of Mississippi State. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 144 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Mississippi State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Mississippi State University earn around $31,812 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,219.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Mississippi State University
Mississippi College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #2. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Clinton. Mississippi College graduates 59% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Mississippi College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Mississippi College generally make around $36,949. Typical student debt for the program is $24,463.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Mississippi College
William Carey University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #3. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Hattiesburg. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 10 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at William Carey University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $46,292 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,079 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for William Carey University
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at University Of Southern Mississippi, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. About 29 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Southern Mississippi in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $52,338 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,415 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Southern Mississippi
Holmes Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #5. Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Goodman. About 10 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Holmes Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $32,145 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,191 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Holmes Community College
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College placed #6 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public university. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College awarded about 13 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College earn a median of $34,214 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,653.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Jackson State University placed #7 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Jackson, Jackson State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 34 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Jackson State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Jackson State University earn around $24,235 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,624.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Jackson State University
More Communication & Media Studies Rankings
View All Communication & Media Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 16 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.