Communication & Journalism degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their communication & journalism programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 263 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for communication & journalism students pursuing a degree.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in communication & journalism. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 219 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $50,556 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,376.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Students looking for a strong communication & journalism program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 742 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $39,707 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & journalism program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 44 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $81,002 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
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Students looking for a strong communication & journalism program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 772 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $62,182 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $15,954 in student loans.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Northwestern University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 504 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $51,506 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,677.
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Purdue University Main Campus earned the #6 position for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 243 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $59,776 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Purdue University Main Campus
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #7 position for communication & journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 555 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $38,815. Typical student debt for the program is $23,367.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Dayton ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dayton. University Of Dayton graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 188 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dayton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $42,629. University Of Dayton graduates carry a median of $25,375 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #9 position for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 95 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $38,912. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from University Of Illinois At Chicago
Indiana University Bloomington placed #10 among the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 464 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $38,265 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,992 to complete this degree.
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Miami University Oxford came in at #11 for communication & journalism this year. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 283 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $48,856 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,181.
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Michigan Technological University earned the #12 position for communication & journalism this year. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Michigan Technological University awarded about 17 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Michigan Technological University earn around $64,652 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,800.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Michigan Technological University
Illinois State University placed #13 among the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Illinois State University awarded about 283 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $41,876. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $22,559 in student loans.
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Michigan State University placed #14 among the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. Michigan State University awarded about 978 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $44,265 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,430 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Michigan State University
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earned the #15 position for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. About 69 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of $40,293 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,455.
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Taylor University earned the #16 position for communication & journalism this year. Located in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Taylor University awarded about 28 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Taylor University generally make around $45,090. Taylor University graduates carry a median of $21,832 in student loans.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #17 spot for communication & journalism this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 416 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $36,829. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,935 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Denison University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Denison University graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 52 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Denison University in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Denison University earn a median of $47,396 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,187.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Denison University
Marquette University earned the #19 position for communication & journalism this year. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Marquette University graduates 83% of students within six years. About 121 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $39,980 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,137.
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Concordia University Wisconsin earned the #20 position for communication & journalism this year. Set in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Concordia University Wisconsin in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Concordia University Wisconsin generally make around $58,227. Typical student debt for the program is $27,172.
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Concordia University Chicago placed #21 among the best communication & journalism schools. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 36% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Concordia University Chicago generally make around $58,760. Students borrow a median of $26,956 to complete this degree.
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Loyola University Chicago earned the #22 position for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 195 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $41,882 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,497 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Loyola University Chicago
Depaul University earned the #23 position for communication & journalism this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 300 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $47,243 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,320 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Depaul University
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #24 spot for communication & journalism this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 513 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $36,994. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,273 in student loans.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Ohio University Main Campus
John Carroll University earned the #25 position for communication & journalism this year. John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of University Heights. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. John Carroll University awarded about 39 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from John Carroll University earn around $41,072 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at John Carroll University
Rest of the Top 50 Communication & Journalism Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong communication & journalism education:
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 · 263 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).
