Communication & Media Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their communication & media studies programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 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.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in communication & media studies. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 544 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data 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
Wake Forest University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #2. Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. Wake Forest University awarded about 160 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Wake Forest University earn around $42,055 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Wake Forest University
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Elon University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Elon University graduates 84% of students within six years. Elon University awarded about 11 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $48,637 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Elon University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. 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.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
High Point University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #5. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of High Point. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 90 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at High Point University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of High Point University earn a median of $113,352 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,785.
See the full communication & media studies program report for High Point University
Davidson College landed the #6 spot for communication & media studies this year. Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Davidson. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 17 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Davidson College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Davidson College generally make around $41,505. Typical student debt for the program is $19,906.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Davidson College
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #7 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates 69% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte awarded about 253 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $38,234 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,050.
Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #8 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. About 177 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn around $36,695 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
East Carolina University landed the #9 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. East Carolina University awarded about 293 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $45,745. East Carolina University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
Get the full communication & media studies details for East Carolina University
Appalachian State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 105 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Appalachian State University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $38,331 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Appalachian State University
Western Carolina University earned the #11 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 41 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Western Carolina University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $28,996 in their early career. Western Carolina University graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Western Carolina University
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro landed the #12 spot for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Greensboro. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 129 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn around $30,559 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Queens University Of Charlotte earned the #13 position for communication & media studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Charlotte. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 41 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Queens University Of Charlotte in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Queens University Of Charlotte earn around $42,489 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Queens University Of Charlotte
University Of North Carolina At Asheville earned the #14 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Asheville in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of North Carolina At Asheville earn around $27,682 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of North Carolina At Asheville
Barton College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of Wilson, Barton College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. About 10 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Barton College in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Barton College earn around $43,301 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,122.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Barton College
North Carolina A And T State University came in at #16 for communication & media studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Greensboro. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 131 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina A And T State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $28,985 in their early career. North Carolina A And T State University graduates carry a median of $27,643 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at North Carolina A And T State University
Gardner Webb University placed #17 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Gardner Webb University graduates 54% of students within six years. Gardner Webb University awarded about 15 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $63,220 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Gardner Webb University
North Carolina Central University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Durham. About 42% of students finish within six years. North Carolina Central University awarded about 38 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from North Carolina Central University earn around $25,750 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,662.
Get the full communication & media studies details for North Carolina Central University
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke placed #19 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke awarded about 26 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $26,411 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,663 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of North Carolina At Pembroke
Winston Salem State University landed the #20 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Winston Salem State University graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 49 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Winston Salem State University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Winston Salem State University earn a median of $24,899 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,096 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Winston Salem State University
Fayetteville State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. Fayetteville State University awarded about 22 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Fayetteville State University generally make around $24,210. Typical student debt for the program is $29,417.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Fayetteville State University
More Communication & Media Studies Rankings
View All Communication & Media Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 21 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.