Communication & Media Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1403 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for communication & media studies students pursuing a degree.
Leading the list is University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, our #1 school for communication & media studies. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 465 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $43,348 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
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University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #2. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 62 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $53,022. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $15,637 in student loans.
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Boston College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 172 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Boston College earn a median of $55,162 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
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Southern Methodist University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $70,632 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,712.
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Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 211 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $50,556. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $20,376 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. About 126 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $47,368 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,230.
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University Of California Davis earned the #7 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 258 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $42,569 early in their careers. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #8 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 124 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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University Of California Los Angeles earned the #9 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 228 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $63,833 early in their careers. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley earned the #10 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 226 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $43,696 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,180 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #11 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 597 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $46,598 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,018 to complete this degree.
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University Of Southern California came in at #12 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 475 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $47,651 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,702 to complete this degree.
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University Of Maryland College Park earned the #13 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 253 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $43,696. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
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Cornell University earned the #14 position for communication & media studies this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Cornell University awarded about 75 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $62,182. Typical student debt for the program is $14,418.
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George Mason University landed the #15 spot for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 105 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from George Mason University earn around $63,131 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
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Stanford University landed the #16 spot for communication & media studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $69,670. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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James Madison University came in at #17 for communication & media studies this year. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 426 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from James Madison University earn around $42,769 in the first couple years of their career. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $21,502 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Austin placed #18 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 156 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $43,848 early in their careers. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #19 position for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 261 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $44,309 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,613.
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Wake Forest University placed #20 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Wake Forest University awarded about 124 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $42,055. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #21 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 226 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $37,808 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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Texas A And M University College Station ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 438 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $43,295 in their early career. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $17,782 in student loans.
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Northwestern University placed #23 among the best communication & media studies schools. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 77 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Northwestern University earn around $52,210 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,112.
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Chapman University placed #24 among the best communication & media studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Orange. Chapman University graduates 82% of students within six years. Chapman University awarded about 91 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $44,601 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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University Of Arizona came in at #25 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 217 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $42,993 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,750.
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Rest of the Top 50 Communication & Media Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong communication & media studies education:
This list is compiled 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 · 1403 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
