Communication & Journalism 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1687 schools to find the best for communication & journalism students.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in communication & journalism. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 483 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $43,348 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
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University Of Pennsylvania came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 65 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $53,022 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,637.
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Boston College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & journalism, ranking #3. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. Boston College graduates 91% of students within six years. About 172 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $55,162. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 875 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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Students looking for a strong communication & journalism program will find one at New York University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 552 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from New York University earn around $48,129 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #6 spot for communication & journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 211 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $50,556. Typical student debt for the program is $20,376.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #7 position for communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 129 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $47,368 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,230 in student loans.
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University Of California Davis landed the #8 spot for communication & journalism this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 265 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $42,569 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000.
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University Of California Los Angeles ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 228 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $63,833 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete this degree.
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University Of Chicago landed the #10 spot for communication & journalism this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 16 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
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University Of California Berkeley placed #11 among the best communication & journalism schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 284 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $46,112 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,180.
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University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #12 position for communication & journalism this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 618 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from University Of California Santa Barbara earn around $46,598 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,018.
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University Of Southern California came in at #13 for communication & journalism this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 1,004 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $49,031. Students borrow a median of $18,978 to complete this degree.
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Cornell University landed the #14 spot for communication & journalism this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 75 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $62,182. Students borrow a median of $14,418 to complete this degree.
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George Mason University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. George Mason University awarded about 112 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from George Mason University earn around $63,131 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 43 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $69,670 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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James Madison University came in at #17 for communication & journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 426 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $42,769 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,502.
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Southern Methodist University came in at #18 for communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 181 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $50,803 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,663 to complete this degree.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 261 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $44,309 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,613.
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University Of Maryland College Park came in at #20 for communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 372 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $45,507 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,450.
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Wake Forest University came in at #21 for communication & journalism this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 124 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Wake Forest University earn around $42,055 in the first couple years of their career. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans.
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Texas A And M University College Station came in at #22 for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 508 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $43,134 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,040.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 297 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $42,467 in their early career. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $20,499 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #24 for communication & journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 472 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $46,140 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,677.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 455 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $46,090 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,338.
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Rest of the Top 50 Communication & Journalism Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communication & journalism ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 1687 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).
