ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in South Carolina

12 Colleges in the United States
678 Communication & Media Studies Degrees Awarded
$35,168 Avg Early-Career Salary

Communication & Media Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their communication & media studies programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for communication & media studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 1
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 09.01), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Media Communication (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Media Communication (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 1
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 1 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 1
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 0 offers with relevance >= 1.0
DEBUG: Backfilling with 0 offers with relevance >= 0.9
DEBUG: Backfilling with 1 offers with relevance >= 0.8

Best Schools for Communication & Media Studies in South Carolina

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.

Top Schools in Communication & Media Studies

1
Clemson University crest
Clemson University
Clemson, SC

Leading the list is Clemson University, our #1 school for communication & media studies. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Clemson. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. Clemson University awarded about 20 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $53,834. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Clemson University

2
Furman University crest
Furman University
Greenville, SC

Furman University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Greenville. About 79% of students finish within six years. Furman University awarded about 36 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Furman University earn a median of $41,766 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,631. See the full communication & media studies program report for Furman University

3
College Of Charleston crest
College Of Charleston
Charleston, SC

College Of Charleston is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #3. College Of Charleston is a large public school located in the city of Charleston. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. College Of Charleston awarded about 187 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from College Of Charleston generally make around $36,903. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from College Of Charleston

4

University Of South Carolina Columbia is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #4. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. About 97 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $35,586. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of South Carolina Columbia

5

A rank of #5 makes Anderson University Sc one of the top schools for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Sc is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Anderson University Sc graduates 66% of students within six years. About 31 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Anderson University Sc in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Anderson University Sc earn a median of $49,036 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,034 to complete this degree. See the full communication & media studies program report for Anderson University Sc

6

Coastal Carolina University came in at #6 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public university. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 129 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Coastal Carolina University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Coastal Carolina University generally make around $29,821. Coastal Carolina University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Coastal Carolina University

7
Winthrop University crest
Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC

Winthrop University came in at #7 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. Winthrop University awarded about 22 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Winthrop University earn a median of $35,198 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full communication & media studies program report for Winthrop University

8

University Of South Carolina Upstate ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. University Of South Carolina Upstate is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Spartanburg. About 43% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Carolina Upstate in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $34,456 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of South Carolina Upstate

9

University Of South Carolina Aiken placed #9 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Aiken, University Of South Carolina Aiken is a mid-sized public university. About 40% of students finish within six years. University Of South Carolina Aiken awarded about 37 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Aiken generally make around $34,654. University Of South Carolina Aiken graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of South Carolina Aiken

10
Lander University crest
Lander University
Greenwood, SC

Lander University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of Greenwood, Lander University is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 15 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Lander University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Lander University earn around $25,271 in the first couple years of their career. Lander University graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Get the full communication & media studies details for Lander University

11

University Of South Carolina Beaufort placed #11 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of Bluffton, University Of South Carolina Beaufort is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of South Carolina Beaufort in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Beaufort generally make around $28,017. Typical student debt for the program is $28,500. See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of South Carolina Beaufort

12

Charleston Southern University landed the #12 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Charleston, Charleston Southern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Charleston Southern University graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Charleston Southern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Charleston Southern University earn around $33,518 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full communication & media studies program report for Charleston Southern University

13
Claflin University crest
Claflin University
Orangeburg, SC

Claflin University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the town of Orangeburg, Claflin University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 52% of students finish within six years. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Claflin University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Claflin University earn around $23,156 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000. See the full communication & media studies program report for Claflin University

14
Benedict College crest
Benedict College
Columbia, SC

Benedict College earned the #14 position for communication & media studies this year. Benedict College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Benedict College graduates 24% of students within six years. Benedict College awarded about 17 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Benedict College earn a median of $25,769 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $37,311. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Benedict College

15
Bob Jones University crest
Bob Jones University
Greenville, SC

Bob Jones University landed the #15 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bob Jones University awarded about 20 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Bob Jones University earn a median of $40,538 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,497 to complete this degree. See the full communication & media studies program report for Bob Jones University

ADBLOCK #173
View All Communication & Media Studies Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 26 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options