2026 Best Communication & Journalism Schools in North Carolina
Communication & Journalism 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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 44 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for communication & journalism students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Communication & Journalism in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall communication & journalism education in North Carolina.
Top Schools in Communication & Journalism
Our analysis ranked University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill the best school in the country for a degree in communication & journalism. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 510 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $49,991 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
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Wake Forest University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 133 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Wake Forest University earn around $42,055 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
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Elon University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Elon University graduates 84% of students within six years. Elon University awarded about 299 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Elon University earn around $34,424 in the first couple years of their career. Elon University graduates carry a median of $20,887 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Elon University
High Point University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & journalism, ranking #4. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of High Point. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 215 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at High Point University in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of High Point University earn a median of $113,352 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. About 85% of students finish within six years. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 221 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $39,889. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $22,324 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earned the #6 position for communication & journalism this year. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 247 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $36,695 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
See the full communication & journalism program report for University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
Davidson College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Located in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 19 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Davidson College in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $41,505 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,906 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #8 for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 276 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $38,234 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,031.
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East Carolina University placed #9 among the best communication & journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Greenville. East Carolina University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 293 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $45,745. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Appalachian State University placed #10 among the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. Appalachian State University graduates 74% of students within six years. About 315 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Appalachian State University in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $35,682 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,455.
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Western Carolina University landed the #11 spot for communication & journalism this year. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Western Carolina University awarded about 65 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of $27,356 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,840.
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Gardner Webb University landed the #12 spot for communication & journalism this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Boiling Springs. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Gardner Webb University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $63,220 in their early career. Gardner Webb University graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 163 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $30,559. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Queens University Of Charlotte landed the #14 spot for communication & journalism this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Charlotte. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 50 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Queens University Of Charlotte in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Queens University Of Charlotte earn a median of $42,489 early in their careers. Queens University Of Charlotte graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Queens University Of Charlotte
University Of North Carolina At Asheville came in at #15 for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public university. University Of North Carolina At Asheville graduates 54% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Asheville awarded about 29 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of North Carolina At Asheville earn a median of $27,682 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,125.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from University Of North Carolina At Asheville
Campbell University landed the #16 spot for communication & journalism this year. Set in the town of Buies Creek, Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Campbell University awarded about 35 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Campbell University earn around $31,953 in the first couple years of their career. Campbell University graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans.
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Wingate University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Wingate. About 46% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Wingate University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Wingate University earn around $40,438 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,400 to complete this degree.
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North Carolina A And T State University landed the #18 spot for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 134 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at North Carolina A And T State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $28,985. North Carolina A And T State University graduates carry a median of $27,643 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from North Carolina A And T State University
Catawba College landed the #19 spot for communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Catawba College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. Catawba College awarded about 15 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Catawba College earn a median of $32,323 early in their careers. Catawba College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Pembroke ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pembroke. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn around $26,411 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,663 to complete this degree.
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North Carolina Central University came in at #21 for communication & journalism this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Durham. North Carolina Central University graduates 42% of students within six years. About 39 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at North Carolina Central University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from North Carolina Central University generally make around $25,750. North Carolina Central University graduates carry a median of $29,662 in student loans.
See the full communication & journalism program report for North Carolina Central University
Winston Salem State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. Winston Salem State University awarded about 33 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Winston Salem State University generally make around $24,899. Typical student debt for the program is $27,096.
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Fayetteville State University landed the #23 spot for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 38% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Fayetteville State University in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Fayetteville State University earn a median of $24,210 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,417.
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Johnson C Smith University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Johnson C Smith University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charlotte. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Johnson C Smith University in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Johnson C Smith University earn a median of $26,090 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Johnson C Smith University
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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 · 44 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.