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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region

39 Colleges in the United States
3,115 Communication & Media Studies Degrees Awarded
$34,133 Avg Early-Career Salary

Communication & Media Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 104 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best communication & media studies schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Communication & Media Studies in the Southeast Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the communication & media studies degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Communication & Media Studies

1

Our analysis ranked University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill the best school in the country for a degree in communication & media studies. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 359 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $49,991. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

2

University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #2. 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. There were roughly 116 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $47,368 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,230 to complete this degree. Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Virginia Main Campus

3
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

A rank of #3 makes University Of Florida one of the top schools for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 380 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $58,996 early in their careers. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Florida

4

Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Elon University, which ranked #4. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elon. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Elon University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Elon University earn around $48,637 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Elon University

5

Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 109 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $41,258. Typical student debt for the program is $20,875. Get the full communication & media studies details for The University Of Tennessee

6
Auburn University crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL

Auburn University came in at #6 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 45 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Auburn University earn around $35,929 in the first couple years of their career. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $20,675 in student loans. Get the full communication & media studies details for Auburn University

7

University Of Georgia earned the #7 position for communication & media studies this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. About 36 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $38,717 early in their careers. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Georgia

8

Florida International University earned the #8 position for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Miami. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 100 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Florida International University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Florida International University earn around $44,331 in the first couple years of their career. Florida International University graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Florida International University

9

Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 322 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College generally make around $43,305. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates carry a median of $22,875 in student loans. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College

10

University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #10 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 90 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $34,530. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of South Florida Main Campus

11

Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #11 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 202 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Virginia Commonwealth University earn around $35,808 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Virginia Commonwealth University

12

University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #12 position for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. About 79% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 97 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $35,586. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of South Carolina Columbia

13

Murray State University placed #13 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Murray State University awarded about 19 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Murray State University earn a median of $48,423 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,420 to complete this degree. See the full communication & media studies program report for Murray State University

14

Middle Tennessee State University earned the #14 position for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Murfreesboro. Middle Tennessee State University graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 74 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $29,877 in their early career. Middle Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $24,329 in student loans. Get the full communication & media studies details for Middle Tennessee State University

15

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public university. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates 56% of students within six years. About 71 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn around $30,559 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro

16

Emory And Henry College earned the #16 position for communication & media studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Emory. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Emory And Henry College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Emory And Henry College generally make around $47,255. Emory And Henry College graduates carry a median of $26,938 in student loans. Get the full communication & media studies details for Emory And Henry College

17

The University Of West Florida placed #17 among the best communication & media studies schools. The University Of West Florida is a large public school located in the rural area of Pensacola. About 59% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 88 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at The University Of West Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from The University Of West Florida generally make around $30,850. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree. See the full communication & media studies program report for The University Of West Florida

18
Mcneese State University crest
Mcneese State University
Lake Charles, LA

Mcneese State University placed #18 among the best communication & media studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Lake Charles. Mcneese State University graduates 46% of students within six years. Mcneese State University awarded about 25 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Mcneese State University earn around $25,131 in the first couple years of their career. Mcneese State University graduates carry a median of $22,625 in student loans. Get the full communication & media studies details for Mcneese State University

19
Lynn University crest
Lynn University
Boca Raton, FL

Lynn University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Lynn University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 16 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Lynn University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Lynn University generally make around $46,524. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree. Get the full communication & media studies details for Lynn University

20

University Of North Alabama earned the #20 position for communication & media studies this year. University Of North Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Florence. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Alabama in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $30,182 in their early career. University Of North Alabama graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of North Alabama

21

Xavier University Of Louisiana landed the #21 spot for communication & media studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Orleans. About 48% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Xavier University Of Louisiana in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Xavier University Of Louisiana generally make around $46,854. Typical student debt for the program is $26,777. See the full communication & media studies program report for Xavier University Of Louisiana

22

Florida State College At Jacksonville landed the #22 spot for communication & media studies this year. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. About 21 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Florida State College At Jacksonville in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Florida State College At Jacksonville earn around $43,508 in the first couple years of their career. Florida State College At Jacksonville graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Florida State College At Jacksonville

23

East Tennessee State University earned the #23 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. East Tennessee State University graduates 53% of students within six years. About 63 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at East Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from East Tennessee State University earn around $33,111 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. Get the full communication & media studies details for East Tennessee State University

24

The University Of Tennessee Martin landed the #24 spot for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Martin. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 14 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee Martin in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $26,803 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,481 to complete this degree. See the full communication & media studies program report for The University Of Tennessee Martin

25
Winthrop University crest
Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC

Winthrop University came in at #25 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Winthrop University awarded about 22 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Winthrop University earn around $35,198 in the first couple years of their career. Winthrop University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full communication & media studies program report for Winthrop University

Rest of the Top 50 Communication & Media Studies Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong communication & media studies education:

26
27
28
29
30
Bridgewater College crest
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, VA
31
32
33
34
35
Lander University crest
Lander University
Greenwood, SC
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
Claflin University crest
Claflin University
Orangeburg, SC
45
Bethune Cookman University crest
Bethune Cookman University
Daytona Beach, FL
46
47
Benedict College crest
Benedict College
Columbia, SC
48
49
50
Full Sail University crest
Full Sail University
Winter Park, FL

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 104 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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