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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Communications Schools in the The Plains States Region

12 Colleges in the United States
430 Communications Degrees Awarded
$40,763 Avg Early-Career Salary

Communications programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 44 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for communications students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Communications in the The Plains States 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 communications degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Communications

1

Our analysis ranked Saint Cloud State University the best school in the country for a degree in communications. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. There were roughly 30 communications students who graduated with this degree at Saint Cloud State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communications degree from Saint Cloud State University earn around $40,279 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Get the full communications details for Saint Cloud State University

2

University Of North Dakota is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communications, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 87 communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Dakota in the most recent data year. Communications graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $34,963 early in their careers. University Of North Dakota graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Get the full communications details for University Of North Dakota

3
Bellevue University crest
Bellevue University
Bellevue, NE

Bellevue University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communications, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 33% of students finish within six years. Bellevue University awarded about 16 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Communications graduates of Bellevue University earn a median of $61,548 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,852 to complete this degree. Get the full communications details for Bellevue University

4

Bethel University Minnesota came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best communications schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Bethel University Minnesota graduates 71% of students within six years. About 22 communications degrees were awarded at Bethel University Minnesota in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Bethel University Minnesota generally make around $40,019. Typical student debt for the program is $25,937. Read more about the communications program at Bethel University Minnesota

5

A rank of #5 makes Saint Louis University Main Campus one of the top schools for communications. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 40 communications degrees were awarded at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the communications program make about $30,047 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,343. Read more about the communications program at Saint Louis University Main Campus

6

Concordia College At Moorhead came in at #6 for communications this year. Concordia College At Moorhead is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moorhead. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Concordia College At Moorhead awarded about 12 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communications program make about $42,431 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete this degree. Get the full communications details for Concordia College At Moorhead

7

Northwest Missouri State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best communications schools. Located in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Northwest Missouri State University awarded about 34 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communications degree from Northwest Missouri State University earn around $34,195 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the communications program at Northwest Missouri State University

8

University Of Missouri St Louis earned the #8 position for communications this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. University Of Missouri St Louis awarded about 46 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communications program make about $32,809 in their early career. University Of Missouri St Louis graduates carry a median of $21,326 in student loans. Get the full communications details for University Of Missouri St Louis

9

Metropolitan State University came in at #9 for communications this year. Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. About 44% of students finish within six years. Metropolitan State University awarded about 34 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communications program make about $46,320 in their early career. Metropolitan State University graduates carry a median of $34,933 in student loans. See the full communications program report for Metropolitan State University

10

University Of Minnesota Crookston landed the #10 spot for communications this year. Set in the town of Crookston, University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Crookston in the most recent data year. Communications graduates of University Of Minnesota Crookston earn a median of $42,458 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Crookston graduates carry a median of $25,288 in student loans. Read more about the communications program at University Of Minnesota Crookston

11

Wichita State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best communications schools. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. Wichita State University graduates 51% of students within six years. About 37 communications degrees were awarded at Wichita State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communications degree from Wichita State University earn around $35,035 in the first couple years of their career. Wichita State University graduates carry a median of $25,159 in student loans. Get the full communications details for Wichita State University

12
Drury University crest
Drury University
Springfield, MO

Drury University earned the #12 position for communications this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Drury University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 12 communications students who graduated with this degree at Drury University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communications degree from Drury University earn around $37,267 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,641 to complete this degree. Get the full communications details for Drury University

13

University Of Dubuque ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best communications schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dubuque. University Of Dubuque graduates 40% of students within six years. About 11 communications degrees were awarded at University Of Dubuque in the most recent year. Communications graduates of University Of Dubuque earn a median of $53,808 early in their careers. University Of Dubuque graduates carry a median of $27,204 in student loans. See the full communications program report for University Of Dubuque

14
Crown College crest
Crown College
Saint Bonifacius, MN

Crown College placed #14 among the best communications schools. Located in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius, Crown College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Crown College awarded about 11 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communications degree from Crown College earn around $42,695 in the first couple years of their career. Crown College graduates carry a median of $29,537 in student loans. Get the full communications details for Crown College

15
Walden University crest
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN

Walden University earned the #15 position for communications this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a very large private for-profit institution. Walden University awarded about 11 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Walden University generally make around $47,157. Typical student debt for the program is $43,566. Get the full communications details for Walden University

16

Harris Stowe State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best communications schools. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Harris Stowe State University is a small public university. Roughly 28% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 communications students who graduated with this degree at Harris Stowe State University in the most recent data year. Communications graduates of Harris Stowe State University earn a median of $31,173 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $32,394. Get the full communications details for Harris Stowe State University

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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 · 44 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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