Communication & Media Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their communication & media studies programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 243 schools to find the best for communication & media studies students.
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Best Schools for Communication & Media Studies in the Middle Atlantic 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.
No school ranked higher than University Of Pennsylvania this year for communication & media studies. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 80 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $53,022 early in their careers. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $15,637 in student loans.
Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Pennsylvania
A rank of #2 makes Pennsylvania State University Main Campus one of the top schools for communication & media studies. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 148 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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Johns Hopkins University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #3. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 262 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $82,754 early in their careers. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
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University Of Maryland College Park is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. About 265 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $43,696. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Maryland College Park
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Cornell University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. Cornell University awarded about 84 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. Students borrow a median of $14,418 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Cornell University
University Of Delaware ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. University Of Delaware graduates 82% of students within six years. About 193 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $41,897 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Delaware
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #7 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 288 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $43,649 early in their careers. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Rutgers University New Brunswick
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earned the #8 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. About 70% of students finish within six years. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 78 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #9 position for communication & media studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. About 66 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $93,452. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Columbia University In The City Of New York
American University landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 81 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at American University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of American University earn a median of $52,640 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,611 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from American University
Villanova University came in at #11 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 160 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Villanova University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $51,574. Typical student debt for the program is $26,456.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Villanova University
University At Buffalo came in at #12 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. University At Buffalo graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 300 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University At Buffalo in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University At Buffalo earn around $39,226 in the first couple years of their career. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $22,251 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University At Buffalo
The College Of New Jersey ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 62 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from The College Of New Jersey generally make around $37,151. The College Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
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Cuny Graduate School And University Center placed #14 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public institution. About 60 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn around $57,782 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,125.
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Marist College landed the #15 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 158 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Marist College in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Marist College earn a median of $41,818 early in their careers. Marist College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Marist College
George Washington University earned the #16 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $50,552 early in their careers. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for George Washington University
Towson University came in at #17 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. Towson University graduates 70% of students within six years. About 111 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Towson University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $42,657 in their early career. Towson University graduates carry a median of $20,309 in student loans.
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Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania placed #18 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 101 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
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Loyola University Baltimore earned the #19 position for communication & media studies this year. Loyola University Baltimore is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. Loyola University Baltimore awarded about 68 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Loyola University Baltimore earn around $42,640 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Loyola University Baltimore
Suffolk County Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. About 29 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Suffolk County Community College earn around $35,667 in the first couple years of their career. Suffolk County Community College graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans.
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Cuny City College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 61 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Cuny City College in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $42,734 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,827 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Cuny City College
Fordham University landed the #22 spot for communication & media studies this year. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 86 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $46,405. Students borrow a median of $25,700 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Fordham University
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #23 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 159 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn around $39,051 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Rowan University landed the #24 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 106 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Rowan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Rowan University earn around $34,549 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Rowan University
Suny At Geneseo came in at #25 for communication & media studies this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Geneseo. About 71% of students finish within six years. Suny At Geneseo awarded about 48 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Suny At Geneseo generally make around $41,070. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
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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 · 243 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).
