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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Wisconsin

15 Colleges in the United States
920 Communication & Media Studies Degrees Awarded
$40,610 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.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 schools to find the best for communication & media studies students.

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Best Schools for Communication & Media Studies in Wisconsin

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall communication & media studies education in Wisconsin.

Top Schools in Communication & Media Studies

1

Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Madison the best school in the country for a degree in communication & media studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 261 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $37,286 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 University Of Wisconsin Madison

2

University Of Wisconsin La Crosse came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of La Crosse. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 69 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse generally make around $40,293. Students borrow a median of $24,455 to complete this degree. Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse

3
Marquette University crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI

Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Marquette University, which ranked #3. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 43 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Marquette University earn around $36,443 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,531. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Marquette University

4

Concordia University Wisconsin is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Concordia University Wisconsin graduates 69% of students within six years. About 12 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Concordia University Wisconsin in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Concordia University Wisconsin earn around $58,227 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,172. Get the full communication & media studies details for Concordia University Wisconsin

5

Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 34 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $40,333 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates carry a median of $22,730 in student loans. See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire

6

University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earned the #6 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater awarded about 126 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $39,367 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater

7

University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh landed the #7 spot for communication & media studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Oshkosh. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates 54% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh awarded about 31 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn around $40,673 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates carry a median of $26,534 in student loans. See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh

8

University Of Wisconsin River Falls came in at #8 for communication & media studies this year. University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of River Falls. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 23 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin River Falls in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn around $38,309 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin River Falls graduates carry a median of $24,212 in student loans. See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Wisconsin River Falls

9

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #9 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 137 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $38,040 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee

10

Saint Norbert College came in at #10 for communication & media studies this year. Saint Norbert College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of De Pere. Saint Norbert College graduates 72% of students within six years. Saint Norbert College awarded about 17 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Saint Norbert College earn around $38,287 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Norbert College graduates carry a median of $26,262 in student loans. See the full communication & media studies program report for Saint Norbert College

11

University Of Wisconsin Green Bay landed the #11 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 40 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Green Bay in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $37,807 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,625. Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of Wisconsin Green Bay

12

University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earned the #12 position for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Stevens Point. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 42 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn around $35,724 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,990 to complete this degree. See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point

13
Mount Mary College crest
Mount Mary College
Milwaukee, WI

Mount Mary College came in at #13 for communication & media studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. About 10 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Mount Mary College in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Mount Mary College earn a median of $49,888 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,372 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Mount Mary College

14

University Of Wisconsin Parkside ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the rural area of Kenosha, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 48 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Parkside in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Wisconsin Parkside earn around $37,107 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Wisconsin Parkside

15

University Of Wisconsin Superior ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Superior, University Of Wisconsin Superior is a mid-sized public university. University Of Wisconsin Superior graduates 42% of students within six years. About 27 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Superior in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Wisconsin Superior earn around $41,371 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Superior graduates carry a median of $28,500 in student loans. Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of Wisconsin Superior

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 28 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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