Top Universities Where You Can Study Communication & Media Studies

Last Updated on January 20, 2023

Best Universities Where You Can Study Media and Communication Studies is an interdisciplinary field, combining studies from both the humanities and social sciences. A student can study this course in depth, career will enhance your communication skills, with knowledge of history and sociology. Since distance learning courses have gained popularity over the past years it has been regarded as the best option for a student seeking media…

There are a lot of universities out there that are known to provide the students with best education in Media and Communications studies. The universities mentioned below have been ranked based on the parameters such as jobs offered by the students and their salaries, quality of education they offer (research as well), infrastructure, faculty, admission trends and much more

Top Universities Where You Can Study Communication & Media Studies

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

Doctor’s Degree

It’s difficult to beat University of Pennsylvania if you want to pursue a degree in communication and media studies. Located in the city of Philadelphia, UPenn is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. A Best Schools rank of #13 out of 2,576 colleges nationwide means UPenn is a great university overall.

There were about 107 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at UPenn in the most recent year we have data available. Communication & Media Studies degree recipients from University of Pennsylvania get an earnings boost of about $16,672 over the typical income of communication and media studies graduates.

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD

Master’s Degree

Johns Hopkins University is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a degree in communication and media studies. Johns Hopkins is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Baltimore. A Best Schools rank of #19 out of 2,576 colleges nationwide means Johns Hopkins is a great university overall.

There were approximately 128 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins in the most recent data year. Those communication and media studies students who get their degree from Johns Hopkins University make $33,372 more than the standard communications grad.

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY

Doctor’s Degree

It is difficult to beat Columbia University in the City of New York if you wish to pursue a degree in communication and media studies. Located in the large city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. A Best Schools rank of #22 out of 2,576 colleges nationwide means Columbia is a great university overall.

There were roughly 90 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at Columbia in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies degree recipients from Columbia University in the City of New York get an earnings boost of approximately $64,872 above the average income of communication and media studies graduates.

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

Doctor’s Degree

Every student pursuing a degree in communication and media studies has to take a look at Northwestern University. Northwestern is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Evanston. A Best Schools rank of #14 out of 2,576 colleges nationwide means Northwestern is a great university overall.

There were about 187 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern in the most recent data year. Those communication and media studies students who get their degree from Northwestern University make $25,722 more than the standard communications student.

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

Doctor’s Degree

Cornell is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Ithaca. A Best Schools rank of #16 out of 2,576 colleges nationwide means Cornell is a great university overall.

There were about 99 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at Cornell in the most recent year we have data available. Communication & Media Studies degree recipients from Cornell University receive an earnings boost of around $14,372 over the average earnings of communication and media studies graduates.

University of California – Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

Bachelor’s Degree

UC Berkeley is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of Berkeley. A Best Schools rank of #26 out of 2,576 schools nationwide means UC Berkeley is a great university overall.

There were roughly 284 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at UC Berkeley in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the communication and media studies program at University of California – Berkeley make $11,072 more than the standard college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA

Bachelor’s Degree

Boston College is a large private not-for-profit college located in the city of Chestnut Hill. A Best Schools rank of #45 out of 2,576 colleges nationwide means Boston College is a great college overall.

There were approximately 212 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Those communication and media studies students who get their degree from Boston College receive $12,972 more than the typical communications grad.

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI

Doctor’s Degree

U-M is a very large public university located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor. A Best Schools rank of #40 out of 2,576 colleges nationwide means U-M is a great university overall.

There were roughly 246 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at U-M in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the communication and media studies degree program at University of Michigan – Ann Arbor make $8,772 more than the typical college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.

Stanford University

Stanford, CA

Doctor’s Degree

Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Stanford. A Best Schools rank of #3 out of 2,576 colleges nationwide means Stanford is a great university overall.

There were about 51 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at Stanford in the most recent year we have data available.

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA

Doctor’s Degree

USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Los Angeles. A Best Schools rank of #33 out of 2,576 colleges nationwide means USC is a great university overall.

There were approximately 617 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at USC in the most recent data year. Those communication and media studies students who get their degree from University of Southern California earn $17,072 more than the standard communications student.

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University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania is among your top options if you’re planning on studying communication and media studies. UPenn is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia. A Best Colleges rank of 9 out of 1,715 schools nationwide means UPenn is a great school overall.

For those interested in something more advanced, UPenn also offers 2 different higher degree levels in communication and media studies, the most popular of which is a Doctor’s Degree (Research / Scholarship). Communication & Media Studies majors from University of Pennsylvania get a earnings boost of approximately $8,828 above the typical earnings of communication and media studies majors.

Cornell University

The Bachelor of Science in Communication degree at Cornell University prepares students to engage with the real-world communication landscape through studies in science, media, and technology. There is a requirement to complete at least 39 credits of communication courses, as well as satisfying the the requirement of taking an introductory statistics class and a first-year writing workshop (both of which can be fulfilled through qualifying transfer credits or a score of 5 on the relevant AP exam). 

The bachelor’s in communication at Cornell aims to develop students’ analytical skills, so they can decipher and helpfully respond to social and policy issues. The courses will prepare students to write and speak with clarity and elegance, and it will give graduates a foundation on which they can continue building research and projects.

Students enrolled for a communication degree will have a large bank of classes to choose from. Upper-division classes include Communication and Decision Making in Groups, Crossing Cultures Through Films, and Communicating Self in Social Media. 

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA

University of Southern California is a wonderful choice for students interested in a Communication & Media Studies degree. USC is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. A Best Colleges rank of 40 out of 1,715 schools nationwide means USC is a great school overall.

For those interested in something more advanced, USC also offers 2 different higher degree levels in communication and media studies, the most popular of which is a Master’s Degree. After graduating, communications students usually earn an average of $39,200 at the beginning of their careers.

Boston College

Boston College has a vibrant, community-oriented Bachelor of Science degree in Communication. The degree requires a student to complete 128 credits, or 32 four-credit courses. Students will all take four mass communication foundational courses (like Understanding Media and Writing for Communication) and then choose an area of specialization. There are three areas of emphasis to choose from: Communication Studies, Advertising, and Public Relations. Students will then take five more classes within the track they have chosen.

The undergraduate communication degree at Boston College distinguishes itself from many other universities by emphasizing how students benefit in communications by being in a liberal arts college. The bachelor’s in communication stands alongside classes from other disciplines to create a well-rounded education that will help students approach communication-related issues from a more holistic stance. The large bank of courses to choose from gives students the ability to tailor their degree to their interests.

DePauw University

Greencastle, IN

Located in the town Greencastle, DePauw is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of 50 out of 1,715 schools nationwide means DePauw is a great school overall.

DePauw University is one of the most popular college to study communications in United States exceeding 89 graduations last year. DePauw University communication and media studies students receive $2,428 more than the standard communications grad.

Northeastern University

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies at Northeastern University requires a total of 128 semester hours, 52 of those being from communication courses. There are a few main ways to focus this course of study: double majoring, choosing a degree focus, or embarking on a combined major. Some combined majors, such as Computer Science and Communication Studies, qualify as Bachelor of Science degrees.

There are university-wide course requirements that all students must satisfy. There are also BA requirements for languages (taking beginner and intermediate language classes) that communication studies students need to satisfy. Then, there are the specific-to-communication classes. There is an introductory course, Communication Studies at Northeastern; common requirements (there are three classes in this category); a foundation course, where students choose one from four classes (including Communication Theory and Communication in a Digital Age); one cluster course, where students choose from five options (including Communication and Gender, and Free Speech in Cyber Space); two writing-intensive classes (such as Youth and Communication Technology, and Communication and Inclusion); a capstone course (like Contemporary Rhetorical Theory and Online Communities); and five elective communication class.

University of Maryland – College Park

College Park, MD

Located in the large suburb College Park, UMCP is a public school with a very large student population. This college ranks 117th out of 1,715 schools for overall quality in the state of Maryland.

For those interested in something more advanced, UMCP also offers 2 different higher degree levels in communication and media studies, the most popular of which is a Doctor’s Degree (Research / Scholarship). University of Maryland – College Park communication and media studies students make $2,728 more than the average communications graduate.

Metropolitan State University

Metropolitan State University has two tracks for a Bachelor of Arts degree in professional communication: the Organizational Communication track and the Public Relations track. While these tracks hold many similarities, there are differences in the primary theories discussed (organizational communication theory and public relations theory), as well as differences in the class options. Of course, students can further individualize their studies by adding a minor. For example, a student can get a minor in environmental communication, digital media, psychology, or violence prevention and intervention. 

The communication programs require students to complete 36 credits in their major. There are six sections into which the communications classes are organized: prerequisites (which are introductory communication classes), initial coursework, media coursework, intermediate coursework, advanced coursework, and electives. The public relations track allows students to use an internship as credit towards their elective communication coursework. 

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC

UNC Chapel Hill is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Chapel Hill. A Best Colleges rank of 60 out of 1,715 schools nationwide means UNC Chapel Hill is a great college overall.

For those interested in something more advanced, UNC Chapel Hill also offers 2 different higher degree levels in communication and media studies, the most popular of which is a Master’s Degree. Students who graduate from this program state that they receive average early career income of $33,900.

Purdue University – Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

Purdue is a fairly large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. This college ranks 84th out of 1,715 colleges for overall quality in the state of Indiana.

There are about 431 communication and media studies undergrads studying this degree at Purdue. Graduates of the communications program make around $36,100 for their early career.

American University

Washington, DC

The American University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Washington. This college ranks 164th out of 1,715 schools for overall quality in the state of District of Columbia.

For those interested in something more advanced, The American University also offers 2 different higher degree levels in communication and media studies, the most popular of which is a Master’s Degree. Graduates of the communications program state that they receive average early career earnings of $42,100.

Indiana University – Bloomington

Bloomington, IN

Located in the small city Bloomington, IU Bloomington is a public school with a very large student population. This school ranks 141st out of 1,715 colleges for overall quality in the state of Indiana.

For those interested in something more advanced, IU Bloomington also offers 2 different higher degree levels in communication and media studies, the most popular of which is a Doctor’s Degree (Research / Scholarship). Graduates of the communications program make about $35,200 for their early career.

top universities for media and communications uk

UK universities ranked by subject area: Media & film studies

best universities for media studies in canada

1. Ryerson University

Ryerson is proud of its systematic setup which works to polish students in the best manner. In the undergrad program in journalism, the professors send students to visit the streets on assignments on the very first day. This task is basically to get into the feel of what a real-life journalist has to face.

Do you know: At Ryerson, the professors are often working journalists from the industry who cherish sharing their passion and knowledge with aspiring students.

How is the communication program at Ryerson University?

The studies here are managed under a four-year program which allows the students to gain valuable skills through different media platforms. Also, Ryerson launched its Master of Journalism program in the year 2007. This hands-on curriculum, the intense course lasts for two years, offering students with training and preparation which proves useful while entering the professional media industry.

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2. Carleton University

Carleton provides a Bachelor of Journalism and follows a more traditional approach for its undergraduate program. The offered curriculum is intense and provides a mixture of professional course work along with traditional academic studies.

How is the communication program at Carleton University?

Carleton holds two different Masters of Journalism streams: a two-year program for non-journalists, as well as a one-year for experienced journalists or candidates with degrees from this field. Both streams merge practical skills with academic theory and later branch into print, broadcast, and journalism studies.

3. University of British Columbia

How is the communication program at the University of British Columbia?

UBC manages a fantastic Graduate School of Journalism, which offers a full-time program that is covered in five semesters, with the inclusion of a summer internship. The one-on-one attention at this university proves quite beneficial for the students.

Moreover, they have access to professors and resources during their media studies. Every student at UBC gets an equal opportunity to gain valuable skills, from video and audio production to long-form writing.

4. University of King’s College

The King’s Bachelor of Journalism program runs for a duration of four years and consists of collaborative tasks in deadline-driven environments. The best part is that students learn to produce content successfully across platforms. Moreover, the students also have the option to pursue a Combined Honours Degree, merging journalism with another area of interest.

How is the communication program at the University of King’s College?

King’s provides a 10-month graduate degree program which includes a capstone project placed in the final term. Interestingly, this project will be completed with the help of a leading journalist mentor from the media field.

5. Concordia University

Concordia provides a three-year undergraduate program which consists of three different options, that is, a 60-credit specialization A in journalism, a 45-credit major in journalism as well as, a 72-credit multiplatform specialization B in journalism.

How is the communication program at Concordia University?

Also, Concordia’s two-year graduate degree program targets more on the theoretical analysis of various trends in journalism methods. Concordia has worked in the past few decades to acquire a status of a recognized journalism institution and has successfully attracted numerous students to wish to form their career in media and communications.