by our College Data Analytics Team
[Communication Sciences](/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a communication sciences degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 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.
A T Still University Of Health Sciences earned the #1 spot for highest-paid communication sciences graduates in the The Plains States Region. Set in the town of Kirksville, A T Still University Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from A T Still University Of Health Sciences typically earn about $99,119 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Missouri Columbia earned it the #2 place for communication sciences. University Of Missouri Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. Early-career communication sciences graduates from University Of Missouri Columbia make a median of around $59,628 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Washington University In St Louis earned it the #3 place for communication sciences. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the communication sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,877.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of South Dakota earned it the #4 place for communication sciences. Set in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a public institution. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from University Of South Dakota typically earn about $59,413 annually.
A rank of #5 makes Minnesota State University Moorhead one of the highest-paying schools for communication sciences. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public institution. Early-career communication sciences graduates from Minnesota State University Moorhead make a median of around $55,425 per year.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #6 for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a public school located in the city of Mankato. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato typically earn about $58,513 annually.
Minot State University came in at #7 for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Minot, Minot State University is a public institution. Students who complete the communication sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,193.
Saint Louis University Main Campus earned the #8 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus typically earn about $61,429 annually.
Rockhurst University landed the #9 spot for communication sciences salaries this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Rockhurst University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication sciences graduates from Rockhurst University make a median of around $69,236 per year.
Fort Hays State University landed the #10 spot for communication sciences salaries this year. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a public institution. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from Fort Hays State University typically earn about $55,477 annually.
Saint Ambrose University earned the #11 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the communication sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,117.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for communication sciences. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a public institution. Communication Sciences graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of about $62,612 a year early in their careers.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #13 spot for communication sciences salaries this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. Students who complete the communication sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,491.
University Of North Dakota ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication sciences schools. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. Students who complete the communication sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,300.
University Of Central Missouri earned the #15 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a public institution. Students who complete the communication sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,714.
Truman State University placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for communication sciences. Located in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a public institution. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from Truman State University typically earn about $53,371 annually.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney earned the #17 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a public school located in the town of Kearney. Communication Sciences graduates of University Of Nebraska At Kearney earn a median of about $53,117 a year early in their careers.
University Of Iowa earned the #18 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a public institution. Students who complete the communication sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,900.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #19 for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Communication Sciences graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of about $57,519 a year early in their careers.
Southeast Missouri State University landed the #20 spot for communication sciences salaries this year. Southeast Missouri State University is a public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. Communication Sciences graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of about $49,068 a year early in their careers.
University Of Northern Iowa earned the #21 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. University Of Northern Iowa is a public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Communication Sciences graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of about $61,465 a year early in their careers.
University Of Kansas earned the #22 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. University Of Kansas is a public school located in the city of Lawrence. Early-career communication sciences graduates from University Of Kansas make a median of around $56,796 per year.
Saint Cloud State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication sciences schools. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a public institution. Communication Sciences graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of about $55,263 a year early in their careers.
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #24 spot for communication sciences salaries this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. Students who complete the communication sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,914.
Wichita State University came in at #25 for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a public institution. Early-career communication sciences graduates from Wichita State University make a median of around $54,318 per year.
These schools also send communication sciences graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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 · 27 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.