Communication & Media Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 149 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best communication & media studies schools.
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Best Schools for Communication & Media Studies in the The Plains States 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.
University Of Missouri Columbia is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in communication & media studies. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 188 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $44,078. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Missouri Columbia
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 24 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $56,395 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
University Of Kansas is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. About 104 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Kansas in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $40,772 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete this degree.
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Iowa State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #4. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 57 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Iowa State University earn around $40,497 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,425 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at University Of Mary, which ranked #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Bismarck. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mary in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Mary earn a median of $65,565 early in their careers. University Of Mary graduates carry a median of $26,983 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Mary
University Of Iowa came in at #6 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. About 150 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Iowa in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $37,647. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $25,814 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Iowa
Drake University came in at #7 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. Drake University awarded about 21 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $56,361 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,273.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Drake University
Concordia University Saint Paul placed #8 among the best communication & media studies schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. About 14 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Concordia University Saint Paul earn around $46,327 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,026.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Concordia University Saint Paul
University Of Missouri Kansas City earned the #9 position for communication & media studies this year. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 51 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $38,786. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates carry a median of $21,982 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Missouri Kansas City
University Of Northern Iowa ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. University Of Northern Iowa graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 40 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $40,558. University Of Northern Iowa graduates carry a median of $19,387 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of Northern Iowa
University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $45,100 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of St Thomas Minnesota
University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #12 position for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Lincoln. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 42 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn around $39,702 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,138 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Duluth landed the #13 spot for communication & media studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Duluth. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. University Of Minnesota Duluth awarded about 48 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $39,706 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,182.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Minnesota Duluth
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #14 among the best communication & media studies schools. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. About 90 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $39,798. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Minnesota State University Mankato
University Of Sioux Falls landed the #15 spot for communication & media studies this year. University Of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux Falls. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Sioux Falls awarded about 17 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $46,956 in their early career. University Of Sioux Falls graduates carry a median of $26,103 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Sioux Falls
Saint Cloud State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 66 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Saint Cloud State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $40,279 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Saint Cloud State University
University Of Nebraska At Omaha earned the #17 position for communication & media studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Omaha. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska At Omaha in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $41,327 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Central College placed #18 among the best communication & media studies schools. Central College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Pella. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Central College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Central College earn around $39,953 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,750.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Central College
Winona State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Winona State University awarded about 59 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Winona State University earn around $38,197 in the first couple years of their career. Winona State University graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans.
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University Of North Dakota came in at #20 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 89 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Dakota in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of North Dakota generally make around $34,963. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000.
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Bellevue University came in at #21 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Bellevue University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Bellevue University generally make around $61,548. Bellevue University graduates carry a median of $27,852 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Bellevue University
Bethel University Minnesota came in at #22 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Bethel University Minnesota graduates 71% of students within six years. Bethel University Minnesota awarded about 22 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Bethel University Minnesota earn around $40,019 in the first couple years of their career. Bethel University Minnesota graduates carry a median of $25,937 in student loans.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Bethel University Minnesota
Saint Johns University earned the #23 position for communication & media studies this year. Saint Johns University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Collegeville. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 24 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Saint Johns University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Saint Johns University generally make around $40,423. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Saint Johns University
Gustavus Adolphus College earned the #24 position for communication & media studies this year. Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Peter. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Gustavus Adolphus College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Gustavus Adolphus College generally make around $50,074. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Saint Louis University Main Campus placed #25 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Louis University Main Campus awarded about 40 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Saint Louis University Main Campus earn around $30,047 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,343 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Saint Louis University Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Communication & Media Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communication & media studies ranking:
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 · 149 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).
