Communication & Media Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 28 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.
Iowa State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in communication & media studies. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 57 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $40,497. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $19,425 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Iowa State University
University Of Iowa is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 150 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Iowa in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Iowa earn around $37,647 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $25,814 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Iowa
Drake University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Des Moines. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. Drake University awarded about 21 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $56,361. Students borrow a median of $22,273 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Drake University
University Of Northern Iowa is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #4. 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 40 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $40,558. Typical student debt for the program is $19,387.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of Northern Iowa
A rank of #5 makes Central College one of the top schools for communication & media studies. Central College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Pella. Central College graduates 66% of students within six years. Central College awarded about 16 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Central College earn a median of $39,953 early in their careers. Central College graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Central College
Loras College earned the #6 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Dubuque, Loras College is a small private not-for-profit university. Loras College graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Loras College in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Loras College earn a median of $36,821 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,166.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Loras College
Wartburg College landed the #7 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Waverly, Wartburg College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wartburg College awarded about 16 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Wartburg College earn around $40,255 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,750.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Wartburg College
University Of Dubuque earned the #8 position for communication & media studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dubuque. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. There were roughly 11 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dubuque in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $53,808 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,204.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of Dubuque
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 28 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.
