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2025 Best Communications Schools

137 Colleges in the United States
12,166 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded
If you pursue a degree in communications, you won't be alone. The field of study is the #67 most popular program in the country. This makes choosing the right school a hard decision.

In 2025, College Factual analyzed 137 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Communications Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 12,166 degrees in communications annually.

What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Communications School

Best Communications Schools Your choice of communications school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for communications schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.

In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.

Pick Your Communications Degree Level

Associate Degrees in Communication Arts
Bachelor's Degrees in Communication Arts
Master's Degrees in Communication Arts
Doctor's Degrees in Communication Arts

The communication arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Communications Schools. You can also filter this list by location to find schools closer to you.

In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.

More information on how we come up with our rankings can be found here: College Factual's Data Methodology.

Best Schools for Communications in the United States

If you aren't interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the communication arts degrees they offer, see the list below. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools in Communication Arts

1
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
3rd Most Popular In NY
97 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Every student who is interested in communications has to take a look at Cornell University. Located in the small city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #9 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Cornell is a great university overall.

There were about 97 communications students who graduated with this degree at Cornell in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in communications from Cornell University

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In IL
289 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of the best schools in the country for getting a degree in communications. UIUC is a very large public university located in the small city of Champaign. A Best Colleges rank of #41 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UIUC is a great university overall.

There were approximately 289 communications students who graduated with this degree at UIUC in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in communications from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

3
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In CA
592 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

University of California - Santa Barbara is a good choice for students pursuing a degree in communications. UCSB is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. A Best Colleges rank of #47 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UCSB is a great university overall.

There were about 592 communications students who graduated with this degree at UCSB in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in communications from University of California - Santa Barbara

4
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In TX
517 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Every student who is interested in communications has to take a look at Texas A&M University - College Station. Texas A&M College Station is a fairly large public university located in the midsize city of College Station. A Best Colleges rank of #42 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Texas A&M College Station is a great university overall.

There were about 517 communications students who graduated with this degree at Texas A&M College Station in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in communications from Texas A&M University - College Station

5
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
2nd Most Popular In CA
293 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

UC Davis is a very large public university located in the suburb of Davis. A Best Colleges rank of #55 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UC Davis is a great university overall.

There were roughly 293 communications students who graduated with this degree at UC Davis in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in communications from University of California - Davis

6
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
2nd Most Popular In MA
314 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

UMass Amherst is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Amherst. A Best Colleges rank of #60 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UMass Amherst is a great university overall.

There were about 314 communications students who graduated with this degree at UMass Amherst in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in communications from University of Massachusetts Amherst

7
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
3rd Most Popular In CA
286 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Located in the city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #49 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UCSD is a great university overall.

There were roughly 286 communications students who graduated with this degree at UCSD in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in communications from University of California - San Diego

8
Marist crest
Marist College
Poughkeepsie, NY
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In NY
153 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Marist is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit college located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. This college ranks 19th out of 136 colleges for overall quality in the state of New York.

There were approximately 153 communications students who graduated with this degree at Marist in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in communications from Marist College

9
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
2nd Most Popular In NY
113 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Fordham U is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Bronx. A Best Colleges rank of #67 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Fordham U is a great university overall.

There were approximately 113 communications students who graduated with this degree at Fordham U in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in communications from Fordham University

10
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In NC
144 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Located in the large city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 93 schools for overall quality in the state of North Carolina.

There were approximately 144 communications students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in communications from Wake Forest University

11
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In IN
151 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Located in the small city of West Lafayette, Purdue is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #65 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Purdue is a great university overall.

There were approximately 151 communications students who graduated with this degree at Purdue in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in communications from Purdue University - Main Campus

12
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, MA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In MA
192 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Located in the city of Boston, Boston U is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #23 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Boston U is a great university overall.

There were roughly 192 communications students who graduated with this degree at Boston U in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in communications from Boston University

13
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
4th Most Popular In TX
168 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Located in the midsize city of Waco, Baylor is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 6th out of 115 colleges for overall quality in the state of Texas.

There were approximately 168 communications students who graduated with this degree at Baylor in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in communications from Baylor University

14
U of U crest
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
322 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Located in the medium-sized city of Salt Lake City, U of U is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 2nd out of 11 colleges for overall quality in the state of Utah.More information about a degree in communications from University of Utah

15
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In OH
163 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Located in the large suburb of Kent, Kent State is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 9th out of 91 colleges for overall quality in the state of Ohio.

There were approximately 163 communications students who graduated with this degree at Kent State in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in communications from Kent State University at Kent

16
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
3rd Most Popular In MN
52 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Located in the city of Saint Cloud, St. Cloud State University is a public university with a large student population. This university ranks 33rd out of 52 colleges for overall quality in the state of Minnesota.

There were approximately 52 communications students who graduated with this degree at St. Cloud State University in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in communications from Saint Cloud State University

17
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In WI
100 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Located in the town of Whitewater, UW - Whitewater is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 10th out of 46 schools for overall quality in the state of Wisconsin.

There were roughly 100 communications students who graduated with this degree at UW - Whitewater in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in communications from University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

18
Marquette crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
5th Most Popular In WI
42 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Marquette is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Milwaukee. This university ranks 3rd out of 46 colleges for overall quality in the state of Wisconsin.

There were about 42 communications students who graduated with this degree at Marquette in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in communications from Marquette University

19
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In DC
35 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Located in the city of Washington, GWU is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #25 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means GWU is a great university overall.

There were approximately 35 communications students who graduated with this degree at GWU in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in communications from George Washington University

20
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In NJ
80 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

TCNJ is a medium-sized public college located in the suburb of Ewing. This college ranks 6th out of 45 schools for overall quality in the state of New Jersey.

There were about 80 communications students who graduated with this degree at TCNJ in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in communications from The College of New Jersey

21
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
10th Most Popular In CA

Pepperdine is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Malibu. A Best Colleges rank of #63 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Pepperdine is a great university overall.

There were about 12 communications students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in communications from Pepperdine University

22
Towson crest
Towson University
Towson, MD
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In MD
121 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Towson is a large public university located in the city of Towson. This university ranks 5th out of 35 colleges for overall quality in the state of Maryland.

There were about 121 communications students who graduated with this degree at Towson in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in communications from Towson University

23
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In VA
176 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Lynchburg. This university ranks 11th out of 57 colleges for overall quality in the state of Virginia.

There were approximately 176 communications students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in communications from Liberty University

24
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
5th Most Popular In CA
74 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

Located in the city of San Diego, USD is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population. This university ranks 35th out of 161 schools for overall quality in the state of California.

There were about 74 communications students who graduated with this degree at USD in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in communications from University of San Diego

25
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
3rd Most Popular In WI
43 Communication Arts Degrees Awarded

UW - Eau Claire is a medium-sized public university located in the city of Eau Claire. This university ranks 13th out of 46 colleges for overall quality in the state of Wisconsin.

There were roughly 43 communications students who graduated with this degree at UW - Eau Claire in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in communications from University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Rest of the Top Best Communications Schools

26
27
Bryant crest
Bryant University
Smithfield, RI

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Communications Schools award.

Rank College Location
28 The University of Tampa Tampa, FL
29 Rollins College Winter Park, FL
30 Xavier University Cincinnati, OH
31 The College of Wooster Wooster, OH
32 University of Houston Houston, TX
33 University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND
34 University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL
35 Lasell University Newton, MA
36 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA
37 Marymount Manhattan College New York, NY
38 Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI
39 University of Missouri - St Louis Saint Louis, MO
40 Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO
41 Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, PA
42 SUNY Cortland Cortland, NY
43 Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CT
44 University of Scranton Scranton, PA
45 Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO

Communications by Region

View the Best Communications Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

View All Rankings >

Communications is one of 3 different types of Communication & Media Studies programs to choose from.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Speech Communication 37,397
Communication & Media Studies 10,005
Other Communication & Media Studies 3,287

View All Communication Arts Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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