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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 57 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for communication & media studies students pursuing a degree.
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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.
Our analysis ranked University Of Missouri Columbia the best school in the country for a degree in communication & media studies. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 215 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $44,078 early in their careers. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #2. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $56,395 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of Kansas one of the top schools for communication & media studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Lawrence. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. University Of Kansas awarded about 126 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $40,772. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
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Iowa State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 44 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Iowa State University earn around $40,497 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,425.
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Drake University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Drake University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Drake University earn around $56,361 in the first couple years of their career. Drake University graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans.
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University Of Iowa earned the #6 position for communication & media studies this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. University Of Iowa awarded about 122 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $37,647. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $25,814 in student loans.
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University Of Northern Iowa came in at #7 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. University Of Northern Iowa graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 47 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $40,558 early in their careers. University Of Northern Iowa graduates carry a median of $19,387 in student loans.
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University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #8 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 42 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Missouri Kansas City earn around $38,786 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates carry a median of $21,982 in student loans.
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University Of Minnesota Duluth earned the #9 position for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Duluth. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 43 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $39,706 in their early career. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates carry a median of $24,182 in student loans.
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University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 16 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $45,100. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #11 for communication & media studies this year. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 31 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska At Omaha in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $41,327. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #12 position for communication & media studies this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $39,702 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,138 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Nebraska Lincoln
Creighton University landed the #13 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Creighton University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Creighton University generally make around $64,369. Typical student debt for the program is $25,831.
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University Of North Dakota earned the #14 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 102 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Dakota in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of North Dakota generally make around $34,963. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000.
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Saint Louis University Main Campus placed #15 among the best communication & media studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Louis. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates 80% of students within six years. Saint Louis University Main Campus awarded about 46 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Saint Louis University Main Campus earn around $30,047 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,343.
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Saint Cloud State University came in at #16 for communication & media studies this year. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Saint Cloud State University graduates 39% of students within six years. Saint Cloud State University awarded about 31 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $40,279. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #17 spot for communication & media studies this year. Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Peter. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Gustavus Adolphus College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Gustavus Adolphus College earn around $50,074 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Fort Hays State University placed #18 among the best communication & media studies schools. Fort Hays State University is a large public school located in the town of Hays. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Fort Hays State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Fort Hays State University generally make around $49,775. Typical student debt for the program is $25,967.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Fort Hays State University
Central College came in at #19 for communication & media studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Pella. Central College graduates 66% of students within six years. Central College awarded about 13 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $39,953 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,750.
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Winona State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Winona. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 39 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Winona State University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $38,197 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,250.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Winona State University
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #21 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 74 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Minnesota State University Mankato earn around $39,798 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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Minot State University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Minot State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Minot. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. There were roughly 15 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Minot State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Minot State University generally make around $50,645. Students borrow a median of $25,788 to complete this degree.
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Washburn University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Washburn University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Washburn University generally make around $39,932. Typical student debt for the program is $21,875.
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Bethel University Minnesota earned the #24 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 71% of students finish within six years. Bethel University Minnesota awarded about 17 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Bethel University Minnesota earn around $40,019 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,937 to complete this degree.
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Kansas State University landed the #25 spot for communication & media studies this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. Kansas State University graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Kansas State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $30,385. Kansas State University graduates carry a median of $24,945 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Kansas State University
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communication & media studies ranking:
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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 · 57 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.