by our College Data Analytics Team
[Communication Sciences](/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 schools on the early-career earnings of their communication sciences graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send communication sciences graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is San Jose State University, our #1 for communication sciences graduate salaries in the Far Western Region. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. Students who complete the communication sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $99,007.
Strong graduate earnings at San Francisco State University earned it the #2 place for communication sciences. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. Students who complete the communication sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $92,831.
A rank of #3 makes California State University Los Angeles one of the highest-paying schools for communication sciences. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. Early-career communication sciences graduates from California State University Los Angeles make a median of around $85,836 per year.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Redlands one of the highest-paying schools for communication sciences. Located in the city of Redlands, University Of Redlands is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Sciences graduates of University Of Redlands earn a median of about $89,677 a year early in their careers.
University Of The Pacific produces some of the highest-paid graduates in communication sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Sciences graduates of University Of The Pacific earn a median of about $85,285 a year early in their careers.
Loma Linda University landed the #6 spot for communication sciences salaries this year. Loma Linda University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Loma Linda. Early-career communication sciences graduates from Loma Linda University make a median of around $88,391 per year.
California State University Fresno earned the #7 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. California State University Fresno is a public school located in the city of Fresno. Early-career communication sciences graduates from California State University Fresno make a median of around $83,488 per year.
California State University Fullerton came in at #8 for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a public institution. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from California State University Fullerton typically earn about $87,239 annually.
San Diego State University landed the #9 spot for communication sciences salaries this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a public institution. Early-career communication sciences graduates from San Diego State University make a median of around $83,644 per year.
Chapman University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication sciences schools. Chapman University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Students who complete the communication sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $79,836.
California State University East Bay ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a public institution. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from California State University East Bay typically earn about $85,654 annually.
California Baptist University landed the #12 spot for communication sciences salaries this year. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication sciences graduates from California Baptist University make a median of around $78,992 per year.
California State University Sacramento placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for communication sciences. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from California State University Sacramento typically earn about $78,900 annually.
California State University Long Beach came in at #14 for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from California State University Long Beach typically earn about $83,573 annually.
California State University Chico landed the #15 spot for communication sciences salaries this year. California State University Chico is a public school located in the city of Chico. Communication Sciences graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of about $80,364 a year early in their careers.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication sciences schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the communication sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,469.
California State University San Marcos came in at #17 for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. California State University San Marcos is a public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. Students who complete the communication sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,686.
California State University Northridge landed the #18 spot for communication sciences salaries this year. California State University Northridge is a public school located in the city of Northridge. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from California State University Northridge typically earn about $86,176 annually.
Washington State University earned the #19 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Washington State University is a public school located in the town of Pullman. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from Washington State University typically earn about $78,640 annually.
Western Washington University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication sciences schools. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a public institution. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from Western Washington University typically earn about $75,526 annually.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa earned the #21 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a public school located in the city of Honolulu. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa typically earn about $71,126 annually.
Biola University came in at #22 for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Sciences graduates of Biola University earn a median of about $70,949 a year early in their careers.
Eastern Washington University earned the #23 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a public institution. Communication Sciences graduates of Eastern Washington University earn a median of about $69,640 a year early in their careers.
University Of Nevada Reno came in at #24 for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a public institution. Communication Sciences graduates of University Of Nevada Reno earn a median of about $72,306 a year early in their careers.
Pacific University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Forest Grove, Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication sciences graduates from Pacific University make a median of around $64,177 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid communication sciences ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries communication sciences graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 28 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.