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2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major

79 Ranked Colleges
499 Degrees Awarded
$60,869 Avg Salary
Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major” ranking.

In 2021-2022, 62,855 communication & media studies students received their degree, making the major the 10th most popular in the country. In , communication & media studies graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $34,194 and had an average of $23,803 in loans still to pay off.

At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 499 communication & media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,735 and $124,256 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major” ranking, we looked at 79 colleges that offer a degree in communication & media studies. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in communication & media studies.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The communications 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 “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies

1
Regent crest
Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Regent University. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major. Virginia Beach, Virginia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s communications degrees to 14 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Regent

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major. Located in Indiana, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified doctorate’s communications students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus Communication & Media Studies Report

3
Howard crest
Howard University
Washington, District of Columbia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Howard University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major. Howard University is a fairly large school located in Washington, District of Columbia that handed out 4 doctorate’s communications degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Howard University Communication & Media Studies Report

4
UO crest
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon

Out of the 79 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Oregon landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Eugene, Oregon, this large public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s communications students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UO

5
Southern Miss crest
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Southern Mississippi. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major list. This fairly large school is located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s communications degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Southern Mississippi

6

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major list. Troy, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s communications degrees to 1 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Communication & Media Studies Report

7

Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking, coming in at #7. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 6 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

8
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major list. Michigan State is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 14 doctorate’s communications degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Michigan State University

9

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major list. Located in Bowling Green, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s communications students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

10
UA crest
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The University of Alabama came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking. UA is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 16 doctorate’s communications degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at The University of Alabama

11

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s communications degrees to 2 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UWM

12
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking. UPenn is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UPenn

13
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking, coming in at #13. USC is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 13 doctorate’s communications degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Southern California

14
DU crest
University of Denver
Denver, Colorado

University of Denver ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major list. DU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Denver, Colorado. It awarded 2 doctorate’s communications degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Denver

15

Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major list. This large school is located in Athens, Ohio, and it awarded 8 doctorate’s communications degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full OHIO Athens Communication & Media Studies Report

16

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a large school located in Norman, Oklahoma that handed out 6 doctorate’s communications degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Communication & Media Studies Report

17
Texas Tech crest
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking, coming in at #17. Texas Tech is a large public school situated in Lubbock, Texas. It awarded 9 doctorate’s communications degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Texas Tech University

18

University of Colorado Boulder ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major list. Boulder, Colorado is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s communications degrees to 6 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Colorado Boulder

19

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking, coming in at #19. This large school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 12 doctorate’s communications degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UNC Chapel Hill

20
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

With a ranking of #20, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major list. University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2 doctorate’s communications degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UND

21

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking. Louisiana State University is a public institution located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

22
The American University crest
American University
Washington, District of Columbia

American University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking, coming in at #22. The American University is a fairly large school located in Washington, District of Columbia that handed out 1 doctorate’s communications degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full The American University Communication & Media Studies Report

23
UK crest
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

With a ranking of #23, University of Kentucky did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major list. Lexington, Kentucky is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s communications degrees to 12 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Kentucky

24

University of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking. Located in Amherst, Massachusetts, this large public school handed out 9 degrees to qualified doctorate’s communications students in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UMass Amherst

25
Temple crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Temple University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Communications Major ranking. Temple University is a large public school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 10 doctorate’s communications degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Temple University

Notes and References

References

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