by our College Data Analytics Team
[Communication Sciences](/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a communication sciences degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 100 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying communication sciences schools.
What’s on this page:
Where you study communication sciences affects what graduates go on to earn. That is why we developed our Highest Paid Communication Sciences Graduates ranking. We rank each school on the early-career earnings of its communication sciences graduates to surface the highest-paying programs.
Learn more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid Communication Sciences Graduates list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
If you want to know which schools send communication sciences graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked San Jose State University the top school for communication sciences graduate earnings in the United States. San Jose State University is a public school located in the city of San Jose. Early-career communication sciences graduates from San Jose State University make a median of around $89,912 per year.
A rank of #2 makes University Of The Pacific one of the highest-paying schools for communication sciences. Located in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Sciences graduates of University Of The Pacific earn a median of about $80,859 a year early in their careers.
Syracuse University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in communication sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication sciences graduates from Syracuse University make a median of around $75,693 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Loma Linda University earned it the #4 place for communication sciences. Set in the suburb of Loma Linda, Loma Linda University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication sciences graduates from Loma Linda University make a median of around $84,261 per year.
A rank of #5 makes Chapman University one of the highest-paying schools for communication sciences. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Sciences graduates of Chapman University earn a median of about $79,836 a year early in their careers.
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The University Of Texas At El Paso ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication sciences schools. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a public institution. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from The University Of Texas At El Paso typically earn about $78,910 annually.
A T Still University Of Health Sciences earned the #7 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Kirksville, A T Still University Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Sciences graduates of A T Still University Of Health Sciences earn a median of about $99,119 a year early in their careers.
Cuny Hunter College earned the #8 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Cuny Hunter College is a public school located in the city of New York. Students who complete the communication sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $93,690.
Biola University earned the #9 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Biola University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Mirada. Early-career communication sciences graduates from Biola University make a median of around $76,744 per year.
Northern Michigan University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication sciences schools. Located in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a public institution. Early-career communication sciences graduates from Northern Michigan University make a median of around $68,487 per year.
Long Island University C W Post Campus came in at #11 for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from Long Island University C W Post Campus typically earn about $81,048 annually.
Teachers College At Columbia University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for communication sciences. Located in the city of New York, Teachers College At Columbia University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the communication sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $85,793.
New York Medical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying communication sciences schools. New York Medical College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Valhalla. Early-career communication sciences graduates from New York Medical College make a median of around $85,528 per year.
Sacred Heart University earned the #14 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a private not-for-profit institution. Communication Sciences graduates of Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $85,465 a year early in their careers.
Loyola University Baltimore placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for communication sciences. Located in the city of Baltimore, Loyola University Baltimore is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from Loyola University Baltimore typically earn about $73,828 annually.
Ithaca College landed the #16 spot for communication sciences salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication sciences graduates from Ithaca College make a median of around $66,547 per year.
New York University landed the #17 spot for communication sciences salaries this year. New York University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from New York University typically earn about $81,790 annually.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa earned the #18 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a public school located in the city of Honolulu. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa typically earn about $71,126 annually.
Molloy College came in at #19 for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Molloy College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rockville Centre. Early-career communication sciences graduates from Molloy College make a median of around $77,912 per year.
Saint Xavier University came in at #20 for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from Saint Xavier University typically earn about $73,380 annually.
Suny College At Cortland earned the #21 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a public institution. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from Suny College At Cortland typically earn about $67,021 annually.
Augustana College Illinois came in at #22 for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Augustana College Illinois is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rock Island. Communication Sciences graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of about $63,128 a year early in their careers.
George Washington University came in at #23 for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication sciences graduates from George Washington University make a median of around $78,554 per year.
Seton Hall University landed the #24 spot for communication sciences salaries this year. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career communication sciences graduates from Seton Hall University make a median of around $74,275 per year.
Hofstra University earned the #25 position for communication sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, communication sciences degree recipients from Hofstra University typically earn about $86,633 annually.
These schools also send communication sciences graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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These schools earned honorable mentions for communication sciences graduate pay:
| Rank | College | Location | Avg Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #51 | Northeastern University | Boston, MA | $70,572 | Full Report |
| #52 | Duquesne University | Pittsburgh, PA | $65,725 | Full Report |
| #53 | The University Of Texas Pan American | Edinburg, TX | $61,181 | Full Report |
| #54 | University Of Washington Seattle Campus | Seattle, WA | $71,199 | Full Report |
| #55 | Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | $70,125 | Full Report |
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries communication sciences graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.