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Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Master's Degree Schools

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2023 Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Master's Degree Schools

287 Colleges
$47,692 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Communication & Media Studies Master's Degree School for You

Communication & Media Studies is the #47 most popular major in the country with 5,059 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

The Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Master's Degree Schools ranking is one of many tools that Grad Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 287 schools in the United States to see which master's degree programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Communication & Media Studies program at each school on the list.

Check out the communications master's degree programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.

Our analysis found University of Southern California to be the most popular school for communication and media studies students who want to pursue a master’s degree in the United States. USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Los Angeles.

Women make up 80% of the communications majors at the school.

Read More…

#2

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Purdue University - Main Campus is a great place for communication and media studies students working on their master’s degree. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue is a public college with a very large student population.

Of the 186 students majoring in communications at Purdue, 25% are male and 75% are female.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Purdue University - Main Campus

The in-demand master’s degree programs at Arizona State University - Skysong helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular communication and media studies schools in the United States. Located in the midsize city of Scottsdale, ASU - Skysong is a public school with a very large student population.

Women make up 70% of the communications majors at the school.

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#4

University of Denver

Denver, CO

The in-demand master’s degree programs at University of Denver helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular communication and media studies schools in the United States. DU is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver.

Women make up 82% of the communications majors at the school.

Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Denver Report

#5

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Johns Hopkins University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Johns Hopkins is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore.

Of the 149 students majoring in communications at Johns Hopkins, 21% are male and 79% are female.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Johns Hopkins University Report

#6

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

University of Florida came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Gainesville, UF is a public school with a fairly large student population.

About 78% of the students majoring in communications at the school are women while 22% are male.

Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Florida Report

#7

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ

Grand Canyon University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for communication and media studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #7 on the list. Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit school located in the large city of Phoenix.

Of the 115 students majoring in communications at Grand Canyon University, 19% are male and 81% are female.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Grand Canyon University

Florida International University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking. FIU is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami.

Of the 111 students majoring in communications at FIU, 21% are male and 79% are female.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Florida International University Report

#9

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA

Liberty University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree communication and media studies programs. Liberty University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg.

About 79% of the students majoring in communications at the school are women while 21% are male.

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#10

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

Northwestern University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree communication and media studies programs. Located in the small city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 82% of the communications majors at the school.

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Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree communication and media studies programs. Columbia is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of New York.

About 77% of the students majoring in communications at the school are women while 23% are male.

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#12

American University

Washington, DC

American University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Washington, The American University is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

Of the 71 students majoring in communications at The American University, 13% are male and 87% are female.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at American University

Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree communication and media studies programs. Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston.

About 74% of the students majoring in communications at the school are women while 26% are male.

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#14

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX

Texas Tech University ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech is a public school with a very large student population.

Of the 68 students majoring in communications at Texas Tech, 19% are male and 81% are female.

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

#15

Boston University

Boston, MA

With a ranking of #15, Boston University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students working on their master’s degree. Located in the city of Boston, Boston U is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.

Of the 59 students majoring in communications at Boston U, 24% are male and 76% are female.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Boston University Report

With a ranking of #16, Queens University of Charlotte did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students working on their master’s degree. Queens is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charlotte.

Of the 48 students majoring in communications at Queens, 29% are male and 71% are female.

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With a ranking of #17, Illinois State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students working on their master’s degree. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal.

Women make up 80% of the communications majors at the school.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Illinois State University Report

#18

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV

West Virginia University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for communication and media studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #18 on the list. WVU is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Morgantown.

Of the 43 students majoring in communications at WVU, 37% are male and 63% are female.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at West Virginia University

#19

Drake University

Des Moines, IA

Drake University landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree communication and media studies programs. Drake is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Des Moines.

Of the 41 students majoring in communications at Drake, 32% are male and 68% are female.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Drake University Report

With a ranking of #19, Washington State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students working on their master’s degree. Located in the distant town of Pullman, Wazzu is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 73% of the communications majors at the school.

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

#21

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL

With a ranking of #21, The University of Alabama did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students working on their master’s degree. Located in the small city of Tuscaloosa, UA is a public school with a fairly large student population.

About 63% of the students majoring in communications at the school are women while 37% are male.

Full Communication & Media Studies at The University of Alabama Report

#22

Stanford University

Stanford, CA

With a ranking of #22, Stanford University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students working on their master’s degree. Stanford is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford.

Women make up 57% of the communications majors at the school.

Read More…

#23

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA

San Diego State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for communication and media studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #23 on the list. SDSU is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego.

Women make up 53% of the communications majors at the school.

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#23

Clark University

Worcester, MA

With a ranking of #23, Clark University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students working on their master’s degree. Located in the city of Worcester, Clark is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

About 62% of the students majoring in communications at the school are women while 38% are male.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Clark University

California State University - Northridge came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking. CSUN is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge.

Women make up 77% of the communications majors at the school.

Read More…

#27

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX
#28

Walden University

Minneapolis, MN
#30

East Carolina University

Greenville, NC
#30

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, TN
#34

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA
#34

Regent University

Virginia Beach, VA
#34

Sacred Heart University

Fairfield, CT
#34

National University

La Jolla, CA
#39

Westminster College Utah

Salt Lake City, UT
#42

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA
#42

Wayne State University

Detroit, MI
#42

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN
#42

University of West Alabama

Livingston, AL

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Master's Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
48 Georgia State University Atlanta, GA
48 University of South Florida - Main Campus Tampa, FL
48 Southern Utah University Cedar City, UT
48 Marquette University Milwaukee, WI
52 George Mason University Fairfax, VA
52 Arizona State University - Tempe Tempe, AZ
52 Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA
52 Baylor University Waco, TX
52 Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OH
57 University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO
57 South Dakota State University Brookings, SD

Communication & Media Studies by Region

View the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

Communication & Media Studies is one of 5 different types of programs to choose from.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Public Relations & Advertising 2,828
Radio, Television & Digital Communication 2,562
Journalism 1,238
Communication & Journalism (Other) 341
Publishing 214

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 26 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to UNU-WIDER from Helsinki, Finland.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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