Communication & Journalism is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 367 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best communication & journalism schools.
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Best Schools for Communication & Journalism in the Southeast 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 & journalism degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, our #1 school for communication & journalism. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 510 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $49,991 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Students looking for a strong communication & journalism program will find one at University Of Virginia Main Campus, which ranked #2. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. About 129 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent 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.
See the full communication & journalism program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
James Madison University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & journalism, ranking #3. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. James Madison University awarded about 442 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $42,769. Students borrow a median of $21,502 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at James Madison University
George Mason University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. George Mason University awarded about 133 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $63,131 early in their careers. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at George Mason University
Wake Forest University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 133 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $42,055. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & journalism details for Wake Forest University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #6 position for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 261 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $44,309. Typical student debt for the program is $20,613.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
University Of Florida ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. About 994 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $43,277 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,358 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & journalism details for University Of Florida
Vanderbilt University came in at #8 for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 20 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $77,997 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at Vanderbilt University
Washington And Lee University placed #9 among the best communication & journalism schools. Washington And Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lexington. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Washington And Lee University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $76,810 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,074 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Washington And Lee University
Florida State University earned the #10 position for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 403 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $44,966 in their early career. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $14,171 in student loans.
Get the full communication & journalism details for Florida State University
University Of Georgia landed the #11 spot for communication & journalism this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,009 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from University Of Georgia earn around $42,568 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $22,731 in student loans.
Get the full communication & journalism details for University Of Georgia
University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned the #12 position for communication & journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the town of University. About 72% of students finish within six years. University Of Mississippi Main Campus awarded about 420 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $40,924. Typical student debt for the program is $23,805.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from University Of Mississippi Main Campus
University Of Mary Washington landed the #13 spot for communication & journalism this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Fredericksburg. About 66% of students finish within six years. University Of Mary Washington awarded about 47 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from University Of Mary Washington earn around $43,243 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,825.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from University Of Mary Washington
The University Of Tennessee earned the #14 position for communication & journalism this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 525 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $39,920 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $21,716 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from The University Of Tennessee
University Of Miami landed the #15 spot for communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Miami awarded about 314 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $43,549 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,528.
See the full communication & journalism program report for University Of Miami
Elon University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Elon University awarded about 299 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Elon University generally make around $34,424. Typical student debt for the program is $20,887.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Elon University
High Point University came in at #17 for communication & journalism this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of High Point. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. High Point University awarded about 215 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of High Point University earn a median of $113,352 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
Get the full communication & journalism details for High Point University
University Of Arkansas ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fayetteville. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Arkansas awarded about 324 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Arkansas generally make around $39,171. Typical student debt for the program is $21,418.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at University Of Arkansas
Furman University earned the #19 position for communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Furman University graduates 79% of students within six years. About 36 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Furman University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $41,766 in their early career. Furman University graduates carry a median of $22,631 in student loans.
Get the full communication & journalism details for Furman University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 221 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $39,889 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,324 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & journalism program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Auburn University placed #21 among the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 279 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Auburn University earn around $40,442 in the first couple years of their career. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $22,304 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at Auburn University
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #22 for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates 71% of students within six years. About 247 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $36,695 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
See the full communication & journalism program report for University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
Lipscomb University earned the #23 position for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Lipscomb University in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $48,949 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,253.
Get the full communication & journalism details for Lipscomb University
Tulane University Of Louisiana landed the #24 spot for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 122 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Tulane University Of Louisiana earn a median of $33,282 early in their careers. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates carry a median of $29,505 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at Tulane University Of Louisiana
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #25 for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 446 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $41,836 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,665 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & journalism program report for University Of South Carolina Columbia
Rest of the Top 50 Communication & Journalism Schools
These schools also placed among the best for communication & journalism this year:
This ranking is produced 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 · 367 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).
