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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in New York

49 Colleges in the United States
3,011 Communication & Media Studies Degrees Awarded
$36,776 Avg Early-Career Salary

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.

College Factual analyzed 96 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 New York

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

Top Schools in Communication & Media Studies

1

Cornell University tops our 2026 ranking of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 84 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $62,182 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,418 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Cornell University

2

Columbia University In The City Of New York is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #2. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 66 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $93,452 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Columbia University In The City Of New York

3

University At Buffalo came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Buffalo. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 300 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University At Buffalo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $39,226. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $22,251 in student loans. Read more about the communication & media studies program at University At Buffalo

4

Cuny Graduate School And University Center is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #4. This large public university is located in the city of New York. There were roughly 60 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Cuny Graduate School And University Center generally make around $57,782. Cuny Graduate School And University Center graduates carry a median of $14,125 in student loans. See the full communication & media studies program report for Cuny Graduate School And University Center

5
Marist College crest
Marist College
Poughkeepsie, NY

A rank of #5 makes Marist College one of the top schools for communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 80% of students finish within six years. Marist College awarded about 158 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $41,818 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full communication & media studies program report for Marist College

6

Suffolk County Community College came in at #6 for communication & media studies this year. 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. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Suffolk County Community College

7
Cuny City College crest
Cuny City College
New York, NY

Cuny City College ranked #7 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. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Cuny City College awarded about 61 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $42,734. Students borrow a median of $15,827 to complete this degree. See the full communication & media studies program report for Cuny City College

8

Fordham University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 86 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $46,405 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,700 to complete this degree. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Fordham University

9
Suny At Geneseo crest
Suny At Geneseo
Geneseo, NY

Suny At Geneseo earned the #9 position for communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Geneseo, Suny At Geneseo is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 48 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Suny At Geneseo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Suny At Geneseo generally make around $41,070. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000. Get the full communication & media studies details for Suny At Geneseo

10

St Lawrence University came in at #10 for communication & media studies this year. St Lawrence University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Canton. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. About 46 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at St Lawrence University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $35,414 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from St Lawrence University

11

Pace University New York came in at #11 for communication & media studies this year. Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Pace University New York graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 134 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Pace University New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Pace University New York generally make around $35,992. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Pace University New York

12

Cuny Bernard M Baruch College placed #12 among the best communication & media studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College graduates 72% of students within six years. About 98 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of $36,367 early in their careers. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College graduates carry a median of $7,892 in student loans. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College

13
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Syracuse University awarded about 112 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Syracuse University earn around $36,767 in the first couple years of their career. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full communication & media studies program report for Syracuse University

14

State University Of New York At New Paltz ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 64 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at State University Of New York At New Paltz in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from State University Of New York At New Paltz generally make around $29,860. Typical student debt for the program is $22,750. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from State University Of New York At New Paltz

15
Stony Brook University crest
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook University came in at #15 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 30 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Stony Brook University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,537. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Stony Brook University

16
Hofstra University crest
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY

Hofstra University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Hempstead. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Hofstra University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $39,782. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Hofstra University

17

Farmingdale State College placed #17 among the best communication & media studies schools. Farmingdale State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Farmingdale. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 42 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Farmingdale State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $50,374 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,528. See the full communication & media studies program report for Farmingdale State College

18
Manhattan College crest
Manhattan College
Riverdale, NY

Manhattan College came in at #18 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Riverdale, Manhattan College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 39 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Manhattan College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Manhattan College generally make around $44,016. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. Get the full communication & media studies details for Manhattan College

19

Clarkson University earned the #19 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Potsdam, Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Clarkson University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Clarkson University earn around $41,745 in the first couple years of their career. Clarkson University graduates carry a median of $26,566 in student loans. Get the full communication & media studies details for Clarkson University

20

Cuny Brooklyn College placed #20 among the best communication & media studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Brooklyn. Cuny Brooklyn College graduates 54% of students within six years. About 48 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Brooklyn College in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $27,262 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,750. Get the full communication & media studies details for Cuny Brooklyn College

21
Cuny Hunter College crest
Cuny Hunter College
New York, NY

Cuny Hunter College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 134 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Cuny Hunter College earn around $29,054 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Cuny Hunter College

22
The New School crest
The New School
New York, NY

The New School earned the #22 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. The New School graduates 70% of students within six years. The New School awarded about 63 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from The New School generally make around $31,782. The New School graduates carry a median of $23,241 in student loans. Read more about the communication & media studies program at The New School

23

Hobart William Smith Colleges earned the #23 position for communication & media studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Geneva. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 33 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Hobart William Smith Colleges in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Hobart William Smith Colleges earn a median of $50,750 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Hobart William Smith Colleges

24

Suny College At Cortland earned the #24 position for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Cortland. Suny College At Cortland graduates 68% of students within six years. About 48 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Suny College At Cortland in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Suny College At Cortland earn around $34,683 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,874 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Suny College At Cortland

25

Suny College At Oswego earned the #25 position for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Oswego. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 35 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Suny College At Oswego in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Suny College At Oswego earn a median of $41,899 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,163 to complete this degree. Get the full communication & media studies details for Suny College At Oswego

Rest of the Top 50 Communication & Media Studies Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communication & media studies ranking:

26
27
28
29
Touro College crest
Touro College
New York, NY
30
Niagara University crest
Niagara University
Niagara University, NY
31
32
Nassau Community College crest
Nassau Community College
Garden City, NY
33
34
Suny At Albany crest
Suny At Albany
Albany, NY
35
Houghton College crest
Houghton College
Houghton, NY
36
37
Iona College crest
Iona College
New Rochelle, NY
38
39
40
41
42
43
Lim College crest
Lim College
New York, NY
44
Molloy College crest
Molloy College
Rockville Centre, NY
45
Cuny Laguardia Community College crest
Cuny Laguardia Community College
Long Island City, NY
46
47
48
49
Dutchess Community College crest
Dutchess Community College
Poughkeepsie, NY
50

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 96 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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