Communication & Journalism 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.
College Factual analyzed 980 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best communication & journalism schools.
Choosing a Great Communication & Journalism School
The communication & journalism program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Communication & Journalism rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Communication & Journalism Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Communication & Journalism Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, our #1 school for communication & journalism. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 558 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism 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 & journalism details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Georgetown University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 252 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $89,401 early in their careers. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Georgetown University
Boston College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. Boston College awarded about 202 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $55,162. Boston College graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 225 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $63,833. Typical student debt for the program is $16,097.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at University Of California Los Angeles
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & journalism, ranking #5. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 220 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $50,556. Typical student debt for the program is $20,376.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of California Davis ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. About 271 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from University Of California Davis earn around $42,569 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at University Of California Davis
Johns Hopkins University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 212 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $82,754 in their early career. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Johns Hopkins University
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #8 for communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 116 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $47,368 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,230.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from University Of Virginia Main Campus
James Madison University came in at #9 for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. About 487 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from James Madison University earn around $42,769 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,502 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & journalism program report for James Madison University
University Of California Santa Barbara placed #10 among the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 639 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $46,598 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,018 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & journalism program report for University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #11 for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 94 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $53,022 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,637 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at University Of Pennsylvania
University Of California Berkeley ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 336 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $45,707 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,180 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from University Of California Berkeley
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 924 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $39,728 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & journalism program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Chicago placed #14 among the best communication & journalism schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 52 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at University Of Chicago
Stanford University earned the #15 position for communication & journalism this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 54 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $69,670 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at Stanford University
Wake Forest University landed the #16 spot for communication & journalism this year. Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wake Forest University awarded about 160 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $42,055 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Wake Forest University
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #17 spot for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 332 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $42,469 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,499 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #18 spot for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 309 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $44,309 in their early career. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $20,613 in student loans.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Cornell University came in at #19 for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cornell University awarded about 78 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $62,182 early in their careers. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $14,418 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Cornell University
George Mason University placed #20 among the best communication & journalism schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 156 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from George Mason University earn around $63,131 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from George Mason University
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #21 position for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 815 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $43,191. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $18,040 in student loans.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Texas A And M University College Station
New York University came in at #22 for communication & journalism this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 733 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from New York University generally make around $52,109. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from New York University
Purdue University Main Campus placed #23 among the best communication & journalism schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 247 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $59,776. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
Get the full communication & journalism details for Purdue University Main Campus
Southern Methodist University earned the #24 position for communication & journalism this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 202 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $50,836 early in their careers. Southern Methodist University graduates carry a median of $19,663 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Southern Methodist University
Northwestern University placed #25 among the best communication & journalism schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 817 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $59,694 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,954 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Northwestern University
Rest of the Top 50 Communication & Journalism Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong communication & journalism education:
This list is compiled 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 · 980 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).
