Communication & Media Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 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.
University Of Arizona is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in communication & media studies. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. University Of Arizona awarded about 229 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $42,993 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of Arizona
A rank of #2 makes Arizona State University one of the top schools for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 370 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $56,309 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Arizona State University
A rank of #3 makes Arizona State University Skysong one of the top schools for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public university. Arizona State University Skysong awarded about 598 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Arizona State University Skysong generally make around $50,004. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Arizona State University Skysong
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Northern Arizona University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 93 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Northern Arizona University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $41,491. Typical student debt for the program is $19,375.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Northern Arizona University
Chandler Gilbert Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #5. Located in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public university. Chandler Gilbert Community College awarded about 21 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Chandler Gilbert Community College generally make around $46,943. Chandler Gilbert Community College graduates carry a median of $10,447 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Chandler Gilbert Community College
Mesa Community College placed #6 among the best communication & media studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Mesa. About 43 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Mesa Community College in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. Mesa Community College graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Mesa Community College
Glendale Community College Glendale Az came in at #7 for communication & media studies this year. Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glendale. There were roughly 20 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $51,483 in their early career. Glendale Community College Glendale Az graduates carry a median of $15,996 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Glendale Community College Glendale Az
Scottsdale Community College came in at #8 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public university. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Scottsdale Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Scottsdale Community College generally make around $48,039. Students borrow a median of $13,084 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Scottsdale Community College
University Of Phoenix Arizona landed the #9 spot for communication & media studies this year. This very large private for-profit university is located in the city of Phoenix. The six-year graduation rate is 16%. University Of Phoenix Arizona awarded about 249 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $47,919 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $45,000.
Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Phoenix Arizona
Grand Canyon University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 412 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Grand Canyon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $43,323 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Grand Canyon University
Estrella Mountain Community College came in at #11 for communication & media studies this year. Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Avondale. There were roughly 15 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Estrella Mountain Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Estrella Mountain Community College generally make around $78,359. Typical student debt for the program is $21,752.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Estrella Mountain Community College
Ottawa University Surprise landed the #12 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Surprise, Ottawa University Surprise is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 18% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Ottawa University Surprise in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Ottawa University Surprise earn around $33,465 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Ottawa University Surprise
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 22 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.
