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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Speech Communication Schools in North Carolina

10 Colleges in the United States
1,372 Speech Communication Degrees Awarded
$35,814 Avg Early-Career Salary

Speech Communication programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their speech communication programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools to find the best for speech communication students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Speech Communication in North 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 speech communication degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Speech Communication

1

No school ranked higher than University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill this year for speech communication. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 133 speech communication students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Students who receive their speech communication degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $49,991 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500. See the full speech communication program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

2

Students looking for a strong speech communication program will find one at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 201 speech communication degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Speech Communication graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $39,889 early in their careers. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $22,324 in student loans. Read more about the speech communication program at North Carolina State University At Raleigh

3

University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in speech communication, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington awarded about 184 speech communication degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $36,695. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree. Get the full speech communication details for University Of North Carolina At Wilmington

4

University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best speech communication schools. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 276 speech communication students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $38,234. Students borrow a median of $24,050 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in speech communication from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte

5

East Carolina University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in speech communication, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Greenville. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 293 speech communication degrees were awarded at East Carolina University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $45,745. East Carolina University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Read more about the speech communication program at East Carolina University

6

Western Carolina University came in at #6 for speech communication this year. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. Western Carolina University graduates 60% of students within six years. Western Carolina University awarded about 48 speech communication degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the speech communication program make about $28,996 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500. Get the full speech communication details for Western Carolina University

7

Appalachian State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best speech communication schools. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. Appalachian State University awarded about 84 speech communication degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their speech communication degree from Appalachian State University earn around $38,331 in the first couple years of their career. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Read more about the speech communication program at Appalachian State University

8

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #8 among the best speech communication schools. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 92 speech communication students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent data year. Graduates of the speech communication program make about $30,559 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. See the full speech communication program report for University Of North Carolina At Greensboro

9

North Carolina A And T State University landed the #9 spot for speech communication this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 speech communication students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina A And T State University in the most recent data year. Speech Communication graduates of North Carolina A And T State University earn a median of $28,985 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,643. See the full speech communication program report for North Carolina A And T State University

10
Catawba College crest
Catawba College
Salisbury, NC

Catawba College landed the #10 spot for speech communication this year. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Catawba College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. About 14 speech communication degrees were awarded at Catawba College in the most recent year. Students who receive their speech communication degree from Catawba College earn around $32,323 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. More information about a degree in speech communication from Catawba College

11

Fayetteville State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best speech communication schools. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 38% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 speech communication students who graduated with this degree at Fayetteville State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their speech communication degree from Fayetteville State University earn around $24,210 in the first couple years of their career. Fayetteville State University graduates carry a median of $29,417 in student loans. See the full speech communication program report for Fayetteville State University

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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 · 18 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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