Communication Sciences is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their communication sciences programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 410 schools to find the best for communication sciences students.
Our analysis ranked Pennsylvania State University Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in communication sciences. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 124 communication sciences degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in communication sciences from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of The Pacific came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best communication sciences schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Stockton. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 41 communication sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of The Pacific in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication sciences program make about $93,206 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 97 communication sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication sciences program make about $25,791 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
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A rank of #4 makes Butler University one of the top schools for communication sciences. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 31 communication sciences degrees were awarded at Butler University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from Butler University earn around $68,222 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,351 to complete this degree.
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San Diego State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication sciences, ranking #5. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego State University awarded about 144 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $22,378. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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California State University Long Beach ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best communication sciences schools. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. California State University Long Beach awarded about 61 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $29,270 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #7 among the best communication sciences schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 68 communication sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $29,620 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $21,117 in student loans.
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San Jose State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best communication sciences schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 99 communication sciences degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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James Madison University earned the #9 position for communication sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 83 communication sciences degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $60,393. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $19,975 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication sciences from James Madison University
Boston University landed the #10 spot for communication sciences this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 12 communication sciences degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication sciences program make about $60,038 in their early career. Boston University graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans.
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New York University landed the #11 spot for communication sciences this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 communication sciences students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,527. New York University graduates carry a median of $24,650 in student loans.
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University Of Florida ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best communication sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 63 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $26,539. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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Florida State University landed the #13 spot for communication sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 80 communication sciences students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $13,371. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $15,267 in student loans.
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Indiana University Bloomington placed #14 among the best communication sciences schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 80 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $26,496. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $19,875 in student loans.
See the full communication sciences program report for Indiana University Bloomington
Northwestern University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best communication sciences schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 108 communication sciences degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication sciences program make about $72,396 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Baylor University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best communication sciences schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Waco. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 89 communication sciences degrees were awarded at Baylor University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Baylor University generally make around $38,174. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
More information about a degree in communication sciences from Baylor University
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center placed #17 among the best communication sciences schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Lubbock. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center awarded about 76 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center generally make around $27,008. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
See the full communication sciences program report for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #18 spot for communication sciences this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 98 communication sciences students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Communication Sciences graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $24,949 early in their careers. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication sciences from Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Maryland College Park placed #19 among the best communication sciences schools. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 86 communication sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication sciences program make about $31,105 in their early career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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Lebanon Valley College landed the #20 spot for communication sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Annville. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 59 communication sciences degrees were awarded at Lebanon Valley College in the most recent year. Communication Sciences graduates of Lebanon Valley College earn a median of $49,801 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,767 to complete this degree.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #21 spot for communication sciences this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 86 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication sciences program make about $30,693 in their early career. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
See the full communication sciences program report for University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Sacred Heart University earned the #22 position for communication sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 55 communication sciences degrees were awarded at Sacred Heart University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Sacred Heart University generally make around $65,577. Typical student debt for the program is $25,831.
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Ohio State University Main Campus placed #23 among the best communication sciences schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 88% of students finish within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 106 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $23,509. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
Read more about the communication sciences program at Ohio State University Main Campus
California State University Sacramento placed #24 among the best communication sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 108 communication sciences degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $22,915. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans.
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California State University Fullerton placed #25 among the best communication sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 136 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $24,594. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Communication Sciences Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong communication sciences 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 · 410 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).
