Communication & Media Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 29 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.
Our analysis ranked University Of Minnesota Twin Cities the best school in the country for a degree in communication & media studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 24 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $56,395 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Concordia University Saint Paul came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. Concordia University Saint Paul awarded about 14 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $46,327 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,026.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Concordia University Saint Paul
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 77% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn around $45,100 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of St Thomas Minnesota
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 48 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $39,706. Typical student debt for the program is $24,182.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Minnesota Duluth
Minnesota State University Mankato is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #5. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 90 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $39,798. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Minnesota State University Mankato
Saint Cloud State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. About 39% of students finish within six years. Saint Cloud State University awarded about 66 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. Saint Cloud State University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Saint Cloud State University
Winona State University came in at #7 for communication & media studies this year. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. Winona State University graduates 56% of students within six years. Winona State University awarded about 59 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Winona State University generally make around $38,197. Winona State University graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Winona State University
Bethel University Minnesota placed #8 among the best communication & media studies schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Paul. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Bethel University Minnesota in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Bethel University Minnesota generally make around $40,019. Typical student debt for the program is $25,937.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Bethel University Minnesota
Saint Johns University earned the #9 position for communication & media studies this year. Saint Johns University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Collegeville. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Johns University awarded about 24 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Saint Johns University earn around $40,423 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Johns University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Saint Johns University
Gustavus Adolphus College earned the #10 position for communication & media studies this year. Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Peter. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 20 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Gustavus Adolphus College in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Gustavus Adolphus College earn a median of $50,074 early in their careers. Gustavus Adolphus College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Gustavus Adolphus College
College Of Saint Benedict landed the #11 spot for communication & media studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Joseph. College Of Saint Benedict graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at College Of Saint Benedict in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from College Of Saint Benedict generally make around $45,702. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Minnesota State University Moorhead ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Moorhead. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Minnesota State University Moorhead awarded about 20 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Minnesota State University Moorhead generally make around $36,172. Students borrow a median of $23,774 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Minnesota State University Moorhead
Concordia College At Moorhead placed #13 among the best communication & media studies schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Moorhead. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Concordia College At Moorhead in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Concordia College At Moorhead earn a median of $42,431 early in their careers. Concordia College At Moorhead graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Concordia College At Moorhead
Hamline University landed the #14 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 13 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Hamline University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Hamline University earn around $42,201 in the first couple years of their career. Hamline University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Hamline University
Bemidji State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Bemidji. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. About 15 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Bemidji State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Bemidji State University generally make around $34,243. Typical student debt for the program is $20,875.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Bemidji State University
Metropolitan State University earned the #16 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. About 34 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Metropolitan State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Metropolitan State University generally make around $46,320. Metropolitan State University graduates carry a median of $34,933 in student loans.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Metropolitan State University
University Of Minnesota Crookston earned the #17 position for communication & media studies this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Crookston. University Of Minnesota Crookston graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Crookston in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $42,458 in their early career. University Of Minnesota Crookston graduates carry a median of $25,288 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Minnesota Crookston
Augsburg College landed the #18 spot for communication & media studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Minneapolis. Augsburg College graduates 52% of students within six years. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Augsburg College in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $36,604 in their early career. Augsburg College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Augsburg College
Rochester Community And Technical College earned the #19 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 21 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Rochester Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Rochester Community And Technical College generally make around $27,798. Typical student debt for the program is $20,291.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Rochester Community And Technical College
Crown College earned the #20 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius, Crown College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Crown College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Crown College earn around $42,695 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,537.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Crown College
Walden University landed the #21 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a very large private for-profit university. Walden University awarded about 11 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Walden University generally make around $47,157. Typical student debt for the program is $43,566.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Walden University
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 29 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.
