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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southwest Region

19 Colleges in the United States
780 Communication & Media Studies Degrees Awarded
$34,797 Avg Early-Career Salary

Communication & Media Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 45 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 Southwest 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

No school ranked higher than Oklahoma State University Main Campus this year for communication & media studies. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Stillwater. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Oklahoma State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn a median of $50,993 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,337 to complete this degree. See the full communication & media studies program report for Oklahoma State University Main Campus

2

Texas Tech University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #2. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 138 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $40,730 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. Get the full communication & media studies details for Texas Tech University

3
Trinity University crest
Trinity University
San Antonio, TX

Trinity University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #3. Trinity University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 32 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Trinity University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Trinity University earn around $34,589 in the first couple years of their career. Trinity University graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Trinity University

4

Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Arizona State University Skysong, which ranked #4. Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public school located in the city of Scottsdale. About 227 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $50,004 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500. Get the full communication & media studies details for Arizona State University Skysong

5

Texas State University San Marcos is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #5. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. Texas State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 44 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $43,500 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250. See the full communication & media studies program report for Texas State University San Marcos

6

East Texas Baptist University placed #6 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of Marshall, East Texas Baptist University is a small private not-for-profit institution. East Texas Baptist University graduates 47% of students within six years. About 13 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at East Texas Baptist University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of East Texas Baptist University earn a median of $44,734 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,137 to complete this degree. Get the full communication & media studies details for East Texas Baptist University

7

Stephen F Austin State University placed #7 among the best communication & media studies schools. Stephen F Austin State University is a large public school located in the town of Nacogdoches. Stephen F Austin State University graduates 53% of students within six years. Stephen F Austin State University awarded about 58 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $45,743 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Stephen F Austin State University

8

Sam Houston State University earned the #8 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 85 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Sam Houston State University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $28,247 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full communication & media studies program report for Sam Houston State University

9

The University Of Texas Pan American earned the #9 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 79 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Pan American in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $26,748 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,956. Read more about the communication & media studies program at The University Of Texas Pan American

10

The University Of Texas At Tyler placed #10 among the best communication & media studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Tyler. About 54% of students finish within six years. The University Of Texas At Tyler awarded about 25 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from The University Of Texas At Tyler earn around $27,586 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,021. See the full communication & media studies program report for The University Of Texas At Tyler

11
Midwestern State University crest
Midwestern State University
Wichita Falls, TX

Midwestern State University placed #11 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Wichita Falls, Midwestern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Midwestern State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Midwestern State University earn around $25,728 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Midwestern State University

12

Texas A And M University Corpus Christi placed #12 among the best communication & media studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Corpus Christi. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University Corpus Christi in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Texas A And M University Corpus Christi earn a median of $27,707 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Texas A And M University Corpus Christi

13

University Of The Incarnate Word placed #13 among the best communication & media studies schools. University Of The Incarnate Word is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. University Of The Incarnate Word graduates 50% of students within six years. University Of The Incarnate Word awarded about 14 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of The Incarnate Word generally make around $17,048. University Of The Incarnate Word graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of The Incarnate Word

14

East Central University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of Ada, East Central University is a mid-sized public institution. About 34% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at East Central University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of East Central University earn a median of $24,638 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,571 to complete this degree. See the full communication & media studies program report for East Central University

15

Texas Southern University placed #15 among the best communication & media studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Houston. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. There were roughly 16 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Texas Southern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Texas Southern University earn around $33,963 in the first couple years of their career. Texas Southern University graduates carry a median of $38,783 in student loans. See the full communication & media studies program report for Texas Southern University

Narrow Communication & Media Studies Schools by State

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 45 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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