### SUMMARY

 Majoring in Communication and Media Studies is not only a valuable choice, but frequently an essential first step for scholars aspiring to pursue a career as a marketing communications coordinator, a media communications specialist, or an event coordinator. In fact, communication and media studies is a surprisingly popular major choice, ranking as the 9th most popular major. In the last year, there were 55,113 communication and media studies diplomas received. In-state tuition for communication and media studies at private institutions is, on average, 3.7 times more spendy than their public fellows.

 With an impressive 1109 universities having programs for communication and media studies chances are that any institutions you are excited about will have a degree program for you. If you're hoping to immerse yourself with other communication and media studies undergrads, consider colleges in California which have more undergraduates admitted to communication and media studies than any other state. less precisely, the best region to major in communication and media studies is in the Southeast region with [Florida International University](/colleges/florida-international-university), [University of South Florida-Main Campus](/colleges/university-of-south-florida-main-campus), and [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill](/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill) best representing the region. Interestingly, our selection of the top conference to study communication and media studies is the Big Ten Conference with [Indiana University-Bloomington](/colleges/indiana-university-bloomington), [Michigan State University](/colleges/michigan-state-university), and [Ohio State University-Main Campus](/colleges/ohio-state-university-main-campus) representing the conference. That said, our belief is that the best school for communication and media studies is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology), and here you can find our comprehensive list for the [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges).

 The objectively best school is not necessarily the 'best' school for every student. There might be many more factors to think about when selecting ​university. Features such as campus amenities, transportation services, and food would impact your decision of where to go to college. At Authority, we have evaluated the pros and cons for you. If, for example, you want to know which communication and media studies university is home to the top campus, the answer is [Stanford University](/colleges/stanford-university). If you are mostly interested in which school is home to the best campus, we have a whole list [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through government databases, professor reviews, student reviews, and more so we can compare every U.S. major in an unbiased and informative way. Here you can find our well researched list for the schools with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbspand our selection of the school with the best student life for communication and media studies is [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university). Curious why? Keep scrolling to learn more about our top selections. Many of our decisions will probably shock you.

 If cost is a significant deciding factor in your decision on where to go to college, you might consider avoiding [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california). [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california)&nbspis the most expensive college for communication and media studies, at least for out of state students. We have a page for the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspschools that could put the expense at [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california)&nbspinto perspective. Additionally, you may want to know that communication and media studies is the 75th most expensive degree in the US, with an average associated cost of $41,500. On a broader scale, the most expensive state for communication and media studies on our list is District of Columbia at American University, The Catholic University of America, and The Catholic University of America - the primary universities in the state - of $49,070, $46,950, and $46,950. Even more broadly, the most expensive region of the U.S. for communication and media studies is the New England region which is best demonstrated with [Boston College](/colleges/boston-college) with a cost of $56,780, [Boston University](/colleges/boston-university) with a cost of $54,720, and [Brown University](/colleges/brown-university) with a cost of $57,112.

 Our cheapest region for communication and media studies is the Rocky Mountains region which is represented by [Brigham Young University-Idaho](/colleges/brigham-young-university-idaho) with a cost of $4,208, [Brigham Young University-Provo](/colleges/brigham-young-university-provo) with a cost of $5,790, and [Colorado State University-Global Campus](/colleges/colorado-state-university-global-campus) with a cost of $8,400. More optimistically, the most affordable university for communication and media studies is [University of South Florida-Main Campus](/colleges/university-of-south-florida-main-campus). Authority.org's entire list of the most affordable universities can be found [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state students can anticipate paying in the neighborhood of $9,700 for a degree in communication and media studies. That cost balloons by a lot to an average of $21,600 for an out-of-state public-school student. On that note, our choice for the university with the best value for communication and media studies: [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology). Through this link you can find our comprehensive list of the colleges we believe to be the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspin general. Bear in mind, this section is predicated on the assumption that you are an out-of-state student. The value proposition changes when in-state tuition costs are considered, but we do not know where you live (and are not trying to collect that kind of data).

 Earnings for communication and media studies students vary a lot, but within two-years of leaving college students will regularly make in the neighborhood of $41,800. While there can be much variation in pay; top earners can experience pay up to $89,400. Straight out of university, the minimum earning positions within the communication and media studies field earn $20,000, which could be worse. The highest earning grads from communication and media studies graduated from [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology)&nbspand if you are looking for universities with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), Authority has that too.

 The all-around diversity of communication and media studies ranks on the higher end, being in the 68th percentile of all majors. The university with the most composite diversity for communication and media studies is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology)&nbspand here you can find our comprehensive list for the universities which have the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The financial diversity of the Communication and Media Studies major only is within the 30th percentile of all majors. Racial diversity is greater than financial diversity, ranking in the 62nd percentile. White collegians make up the largest share at 58% of those studying communication and media studies. Additionally, 68% of scholars seeking a communication and media studies major are women.

 The median ranking of communication and media studies professors is 4.2 stars, a score that is 5% greater than the median across every major; which is a good ranking. If you are curious about the most popular communication and media studies instructor in the nation, take a look at Thomas Brecheisen from [The Art Institute of Las Vegas](/colleges/the-art-institute-of-las-vegas). It may be surprising, but the top rated professors for communication and media studies by student come from [CUNY Bernard M Baruch College](/colleges/cuny-bernard-m-baruch-college). As we consider information other than simply rankings it becomes clear that the university with the overall best professors for communication and media studies is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology). You can find more detail on our evolving ranking methodology for the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), as well as many of the finest examples of instructors in the U.S.

 Finally, the hardest school to get into for communication and media studies is [Stanford University](/colleges/stanford-university). While we are unsure why you would be interested, we do have an extensive list for the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). Although, we do hope you believe that considering university with a perspective mainly derived from superlatives could be said to be the root of many of higher education's fundamental problems. We hope you look at some of our other pages on different universities and peruse a couple of our insightful background articles on beneficial details to consider as your university search develops.



 ### POPULARITY

 Communication and media studies is the 9th most popular degree in America, with 55,113 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #10 [Accounting](/rankings/best-colleges-for-accounting), and narrowly lost to #8 [Criminal Justice](/rankings/best-colleges-for-criminal-justice).

 The degree is offered at a total of 1,109 colleges across the nation, and is the 13th most widely offered degree. Given that communication and media studies is offered at 38% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America, you can be sure this is a critical degree and the skillsets acquired are likely to last for a long time.

 It is also worth noting that one half of colleges offering communication and media studies are public making it a pretty accessible field.

 The southeast produces the most communication and media studies graduates, largely led by [Florida International University](/colleges/florida-international-university), while it’s the Big Ten Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, California ranks highest, with particular help from [California State University-Fullerton](/colleges/california-state-university-fullerton) and [California State University-Sacramento](/colleges/california-state-university-sacramento).

 All that being said, no individual school produces more communication and media studies graduates than [Alabama A & M University](/colleges/alabama-a-m-university), which graduated 868 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study communication and media studies). More students studied communication and media studies as a percentage of total students at [High Point University](/colleges/high-point-university) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Communication and media studies is the 75th most expensive major in the US, with a median cost of $41,498 among the top 50 programs (just ahead of #76, [Mathematics and Computer Science](rankings/best-colleges-for-mathematics-and-computer-science), with a median cost of $41,196).

 New England has the most expensive colleges with top-notch communication and media studies programs predominantly led by [Boston College](/colleges/boston-college) with an annual cost of $56,780. The most expensive state for communication and media studies is District of Columbia led by [American University](/colleges/american-university) and [The Catholic University of America](/colleges/the-catholic-university-of-america).

 Public schools with solid programs typically charge 72.86% less than private schools for in-state students. When looking at out-of-state tuition however, the median top 50 Public school charges 39.7% less than your average private school. So be sure to take a look at public shools in your state as soon as possible.

 The most expensive top 25 college for communication and media studies is [University of Southern California](/colleges/university-of-southern-california), which is the 14th most expensive college in America. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College](/colleges/louisiana-state-university-and-agricultural-mechanical-college). It costs just $8,038 per year, and it's its communication and media studies program is ranked #41. If you’re looking for a higher ranked, but still affordable school, [University of South Florida-Main Campus](/colleges/university-of-south-florida-main-campus)  might be a good fit for you, ranked #22 with an in-state cost of just $4,559. Another more affordable choice would be #11, [Florida International University](/colleges/florida-international-university) in Miami-Dade County, FL with a cost of $4,721 for in-state students and $16,529 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 College is a massive investment for most. It's critical to have confidence you justify your spend. With that in mind, we hope the following income and job placement information help you make an intelligent decision when selecting your focus.

 The average Communication and Media Studies student takes home a first year salary of $37,376 per year (close to national median 51st percentile). After a little experience in their employment, they by and large take home something between $19,964 and $89,432, but average about $41,806. To put it in context, that is 8% more than the national average.

 The most popular work title for a Communication and Media Studies graduate is Inside Sales Representative, which generally make near $26,000; next are Analyst and Account Executive, which typically make close to $54,000 and $36,000 respectively.

 New England has the highest grossing Communication and Media Studies graduates. TN has the highest grossing Communication and Media Studies alumni of any state. Ivy League has the highest earning Communication and Media Studies graduates of any conference..



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Communication and Media Studies: Median Professor Rating: 4.2 / 5, which is Top 100.

 Professors frequently have a consequential impact your college experience, regardless of your primary focus. An amazing instructor could help a student find their passion and set you up for future success. Alternatively, an ineffective professor can mess up your development or even worse... fail you!

 Communication and Media Studies professors have a median student rating of 4.2 / 5, putting them in 91st place in the US grounded in student satisfaction. For context that's 5% above the national median professor rating for all subjects. Professors of Communication and Media Studies just surpassed those from ["History"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-history), whereas ["English Language and Literature"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-english-language-and-literature)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Communication and Media Studies.

 Now for some statistics about Communication and Media Studies professors. Colleges located in distant rural areas tend to have the best Communication and Media Studies professors. The Great Lakes Valley Conference has the highest rated Communication and Media Studies professors. The Far West region has the highest rated Communication and Media Studies professors. Public institutions tend to have higher rated Communication and Media Studies professors than private institutions. Finally, Missouri has the highest rated Communication and Media Studies professors in the United States.

 Thomas Brecheisen, instructor at [The Art Institute of Las Vegas](/colleges/the-art-institute-of-las-vegas)&nbspin Henderson, NV is the most popular Communication and Media Studies professor in America. Heidi Gelover, instructor at [CUNY New York City College of Technology](/colleges/cuny-new-york-city-college-of-technology)&nbspin Brooklyn, NY is the highest rated Communication and Media Studies professor in the United States, with a rating of 5 / 5.

 See which universities have the [Best Professors](/rankings/best-professors)!



### STUDENTS

 College is a fabulously influential time in one's life; it is an opportunity for personal progress and expansion. Undergrads start to find out what they can become and build many of the needed skills to be a prosperous member of society. But learning is more than sitting in a classroom environment - the interactions one has with her peers, the personal lesson gained from an eccentric instructor, the exposure to a different stance on an issue. Therefore, a diverse college experience vastly enriches what one gains from the time spent at university.

 Communication and Media Studies is a slightly more ethnically diverse focus than average\*. 58% of the United States' Communication and Media Studies majors are white students, followed by latino students (16%), students of other races\*\*(12%), and black students (8%). The most racially diverse college\* in the top 100 is [Pomona College](/colleges/pomona-college)&nbspin Claremont, CA.

 Second, Communication and Media Studies significatly skews female, with around two out of every three students majoring in Communication and Media Studies identifying as women. The most gender balanced school in the top 100 is [Pomona College](/colleges/pomona-college) in Claremont, CA.

 Another important type of diversity is economic diversity. Unfortunately, Communication and Media Studies is less economically diverse than 70% of majors in the US. 32% of its students come from families with $110,000 plus annual incomes, 16% are from homes that make between $48,000 and $75,000 a year, and 24% grew up in families with a sub $30,000 annual income. [University of North Carolina at Charlotte](/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-charlotte) is the most socioeconomically diverse college in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall CA is the most diverse state for Communication and Media Studies. The Far West is the most diverse region, and the California Collegiate Athletic Association is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 7%
* Black: 8%
* Latino: 16%
* White: 58%
* Other: 12%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 32%
* Female: 68%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 24%
* 30k - 48k: 15%
* 48k - 75k: 16%
* 75k - 110k: 15%
* Over 110k: 32%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 66%
* Out of State: 27%
* International: 7%


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There are about 251,895 students enrolled in Communication and Media Studies in the USA.

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There are about 251,895 students enrolled in Communication and Media Studies in the USA.

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