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Best Communications & Media Programs 2026

Top communications and media programs ranked by salary. Compare PR and media studies across schools.

25 programs ranked
$58,644 avg salary
17 public schools
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RankProgramSchoolStateMedian SalaryAnnual CostValue ScoreBreak-Even
1Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringUniversity of California-BerkeleyCA$126,367$13,481/yr99/1000.6 yr
2Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringUniversity of Southern CaliforniaCA$81,661$31,927/yr98/1002.6 yr
3Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringUniversity of California-Los AngelesCA$78,867$12,548/yr99/1001.1 yr
4Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringUniversity of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL$74,981$15,201/yr98/1001.5 yr
5Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringIowa State UniversityIA$74,299$18,165/yr96/1001.8 yr
6Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringUniversity of ArizonaAZ$73,122$15,960/yr94/1001.6 yr
7Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringUniversity of FloridaFL$72,430$6,351/yr98/1000.7 yr
8Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringUniversity of California-Santa BarbaraCA$70,445$13,825/yr96/1001.5 yr
9Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringFlorida State UniversityFL$69,881$10,997/yr95/1001.3 yr
10Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringUniversity of GeorgiaGA$67,861$13,816/yr95/1001.6 yr
11Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringThe University of AlabamaAL$65,725$22,150/yr91/1002.7 yr
12Communication and Media StudiesBoston CollegeMA$49,055$41,704/yr55/1009.1 yr
13Communication and Media StudiesUniversity of California-BerkeleyCA$48,287$13,481/yr85/1003.2 yr
14Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationGeorge Washington UniversityDC$47,727$37,454/yr57/1008.9 yr
15Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationUniversity of Southern CaliforniaCA$46,759$31,927/yr64/1008 yr
16Communication and Media StudiesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaCA$46,379$31,927/yr63/1008.2 yr
17Communication and Media StudiesGeorge Washington UniversityDC$45,521$37,454/yr52/10010.1 yr
18Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationUniversity of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL$42,675$15,201/yr79/1005.4 yr
19Communication and Media StudiesBoston UniversityMA$41,873$24,402/yr66/1008.9 yr
20Communication and Media StudiesUniversity of ArizonaAZ$41,289$15,960/yr74/1006.3 yr
21Communication and Media StudiesUniversity of California-Santa BarbaraCA$41,054$13,825/yr78/1005.5 yr
22Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationUniversity of FloridaFL$40,235$6,351/yr82/1003 yr
23Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationUniversity of GeorgiaGA$40,201$13,816/yr77/1006.1 yr
24Communication and Media StudiesTulane University of LouisianaLA$39,771$43,939/yr30/10018.8 yr
25Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationIowa State UniversityIA$39,633$18,165/yr72/1008.4 yr
1

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

99/100Public

University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA

$126,367 median salary$13,481/yr net cost0.6 yr break-even+321% vs. HS diploma
2

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

98/100

University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA

$81,661 median salary$31,927/yr net cost2.6 yr break-even+172% vs. HS diploma
3

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

99/100Public

University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA

$78,867 median salary$12,548/yr net cost1.1 yr break-even+163% vs. HS diploma
4

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering

98/100Public

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL

$74,981 median salary$15,201/yr net cost1.5 yr break-even+150% vs. HS diploma
5

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

96/100Public

Iowa State University · Ames, IA

$74,299 median salary$18,165/yr net cost1.8 yr break-even+148% vs. HS diploma
6

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

94/100Public

University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ

$73,122 median salary$15,960/yr net cost1.6 yr break-even+144% vs. HS diploma
7

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

98/100Public

University of Florida · Gainesville, FL

$72,430 median salary$6,351/yr net cost0.7 yr break-even+141% vs. HS diploma
8

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

96/100Public

University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA

$70,445 median salary$13,825/yr net cost1.5 yr break-even+135% vs. HS diploma
9

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering

95/100Public

Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL

$69,881 median salary$10,997/yr net cost1.3 yr break-even+133% vs. HS diploma
10

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

95/100Public

University of Georgia · Athens, GA

$67,861 median salary$13,816/yr net cost1.6 yr break-even+126% vs. HS diploma
11

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

91/100Public

The University of Alabama · Tuscaloosa, AL

$65,725 median salary$22,150/yr net cost2.7 yr break-even+119% vs. HS diploma
12

Communication and Media Studies

55/100

Boston College · Chestnut Hill, MA

$49,055 median salary$41,704/yr net cost9.1 yr break-even+64% vs. HS diploma
13

Communication and Media Studies

85/100Public

University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA

$48,287 median salary$13,481/yr net cost3.2 yr break-even+61% vs. HS diploma
14

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

57/100

George Washington University · Washington, DC

$47,727 median salary$37,454/yr net cost8.9 yr break-even+59% vs. HS diploma
15

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

64/100

University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA

$46,759 median salary$31,927/yr net cost8 yr break-even+56% vs. HS diploma
16

Communication and Media Studies

63/100

University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA

$46,379 median salary$31,927/yr net cost8.2 yr break-even+55% vs. HS diploma
17

Communication and Media Studies

52/100

George Washington University · Washington, DC

$45,521 median salary$37,454/yr net cost10.1 yr break-even+52% vs. HS diploma
18

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

79/100Public

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL

$42,675 median salary$15,201/yr net cost5.4 yr break-even+42% vs. HS diploma
19

Communication and Media Studies

66/100

Boston University · Boston, MA

$41,873 median salary$24,402/yr net cost8.9 yr break-even+40% vs. HS diploma
20

Communication and Media Studies

74/100Public

University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ

$41,289 median salary$15,960/yr net cost6.3 yr break-even+38% vs. HS diploma
21

Communication and Media Studies

78/100Public

University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA

$41,054 median salary$13,825/yr net cost5.5 yr break-even+37% vs. HS diploma
22

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

82/100Public

University of Florida · Gainesville, FL

$40,235 median salary$6,351/yr net cost3 yr break-even+34% vs. HS diploma
23

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

77/100Public

University of Georgia · Athens, GA

$40,201 median salary$13,816/yr net cost6.1 yr break-even+34% vs. HS diploma
24

Communication and Media Studies

30/100

Tulane University of Louisiana · New Orleans, LA

$39,771 median salary$43,939/yr net cost18.8 yr break-even+33% vs. HS diploma
25

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

72/100Public

Iowa State University · Ames, IA

$39,633 median salary$18,165/yr net cost8.4 yr break-even+32% vs. HS diploma

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Compare SchoolsOverall Rankings

Rankings are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Programs are ranked by median earnings 1 year after completion. Data reflects bachelor's degree programs only.