by our College Data Analytics Team
[Communication Sciences](/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their communication sciences graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find where communication sciences graduates earn the most.
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If you want to know which schools send communication sciences graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in communication sciences, no school beat James Madison University this year. James Madison University is a public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Early-career communication sciences graduates from James Madison University make a median of around $64,730 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in communication sciences will find them at Radford University, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Radford, Radford University is a public institution. Early-career communication sciences graduates from Radford University make a median of around $60,400 per year.
Hampton University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in communication sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Hampton University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hampton. Students who complete the communication sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,837.
Students chasing top earnings in communication sciences will find them at University Of Virginia Main Campus, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. Communication Sciences graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of about $59,354 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Longwood University earned it the #5 place for communication sciences. Longwood University is a public school located in the town of Farmville. Early-career communication sciences graduates from Longwood University make a median of around $58,281 per year.
Old Dominion University came in at #6 for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a public institution. Students who complete the communication sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,361.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their communication sciences graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 6 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.