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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Missouri

13 Colleges in the United States
635 Communication & Media Studies Degrees Awarded
$40,200 Avg Early-Career Salary

Communication & Media Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 36 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:

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Best Schools for Communication & Media Studies in Missouri

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

Our analysis ranked University Of Missouri Columbia the best school in the country for a degree in communication & media studies. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. 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. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree. See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Missouri Columbia

2

University Of Missouri Kansas City 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 Kansas City. About 54% of students finish within six years. University Of Missouri Kansas City awarded about 51 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $38,786. Typical student debt for the program is $21,982. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Missouri Kansas City

3

Saint Louis University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #3. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Saint Louis University Main Campus awarded about 40 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $30,047 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,343 to complete this degree. See the full communication & media studies program report for Saint Louis University Main Campus

4
Truman State University crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, MO

Truman State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Truman State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kirksville. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 11 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Truman State University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Truman State University earn a median of $31,853 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Truman State University

5

Missouri Southern State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #5. Missouri Southern State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Joplin. Missouri Southern State University graduates 40% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Missouri Southern State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Missouri Southern State University earn around $30,201 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,350 to complete this degree. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Missouri Southern State University

6

University Of Central Missouri ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Central Missouri in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $45,496. Typical student debt for the program is $22,312. Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Central Missouri

7

Northwest Missouri State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Northwest Missouri State University is a large public school located in the town of Maryville. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 47 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Northwest Missouri State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $34,195 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Northwest Missouri State University

8

University Of Missouri St Louis landed the #8 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public university. University Of Missouri St Louis graduates 57% of students within six years. About 53 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri St Louis in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Missouri St Louis earn around $32,809 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Missouri St Louis graduates carry a median of $21,326 in student loans. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Missouri St Louis

9

Missouri State University Springfield ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. Missouri State University Springfield graduates 58% of students within six years. Missouri State University Springfield awarded about 93 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $38,584 in their early career. Missouri State University Springfield graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. See the full communication & media studies program report for Missouri State University Springfield

10

Missouri Western State University landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies this year. Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Saint Joseph. Missouri Western State University graduates 39% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Missouri Western State University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Missouri Western State University earn a median of $41,107 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,362 to complete this degree. Get the full communication & media studies details for Missouri Western State University

11
Drury University crest
Drury University
Springfield, MO

Drury University landed the #11 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Drury University is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Drury University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $37,267 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,641 to complete this degree. See the full communication & media studies program report for Drury University

12

Maryville University Of Saint Louis earned the #12 position for communication & media studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Maryville University Of Saint Louis awarded about 11 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $67,909 in their early career. Maryville University Of Saint Louis graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. See the full communication & media studies program report for Maryville University Of Saint Louis

13
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO

Lindenwood University landed the #13 spot for communication & media studies this year. Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles. About 49% of students finish within six years. Lindenwood University awarded about 27 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $50,346 in their early career. Lindenwood University graduates carry a median of $28,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Lindenwood University

14
Webster University crest
Webster University
Saint Louis, MO

Webster University landed the #14 spot for communication & media studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Webster University graduates 64% of students within six years. Webster University awarded about 28 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Webster University earn a median of $55,445 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $30,500. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Webster University

15
Avila University crest
Avila University
Kansas City, MO

Avila University landed the #15 spot for communication & media studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Kansas City. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Avila University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Avila University generally make around $33,905. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full communication & media studies details for Avila University

16

Harris Stowe State University placed #16 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Harris Stowe State University is a small public university. The six-year graduation rate is 28%. Harris Stowe State University awarded about 10 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Harris Stowe State University generally make around $31,173. Harris Stowe State University graduates carry a median of $32,394 in student loans. Get the full communication & media studies details for Harris Stowe State University

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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 · 36 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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