Communication programs produce graduates with career earnings ranging from $15,817 to $80,616. Across 586 programs, the variation in program outcomes demonstrates why program selection matters significantly for career trajectories in journalism and media careers.
Leading the list is Cornell University, achieving the highest program earnings at $80,616. Georgia Institute Of Technology-Main Campus follows with $77,892, while University Of Pennsylvania rounds out the top three at $77,464, demonstrating how elite communications degree programs translate to superior median earnings.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | Ithaca, NY | $80,616 Median Communication Earnings | $4,079 | 8.2% | 95.1% |
| #2 | Atlanta, GA | $77,892 Median Communication Earnings | $7,491 | 16.5% | 92.3% | |
| #3 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | Philadelphia, PA | $77,464 Median Communication Earnings | $1,026 | 5.9% | 96.8% |
| #4 | Berkeley, CA | $76,374 Median Communication Earnings | $5,895 | 11.7% | 92.9% | |
| #5 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | Santa Clara, CA | $71,818 Median Communication Earnings | $36,094 | 43.8% | 88.4% |
| #6 | Lexington, VA | $71,492 Median Communication Earnings | $76 | 17.4% | 94.9% | |
| #7 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | Washington, DC | $68,573 Median Communication Earnings | $21,396 | 43.5% | 85.2% |
| #8 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | San Francisco, CA | $67,654 Median Communication Earnings | $31,741 | 50.8% | 71.1% |
| #9 | American UniversityPrivate | Washington, DC | $67,341 Median Communication Earnings | $21,176 | 47.4% | 78.5% |
| #10 | Ann Arbor, MI | $66,507 Median Communication Earnings | $4,926 | 17.9% | 93.2% | |
| #11 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | Boston, MA | $66,470 Median Communication Earnings | $5,900 | 5.7% | 90.4% |
| #12 | New York UniversityPrivate | New York, NY | $65,523 Median Communication Earnings | $16,816 | 9.4% | 88.5% |
| #13 | Boston CollegePrivate | Chestnut Hill, MA | $65,184 Median Communication Earnings | $5,851 | 15.7% | 91.0% |
| #14 | Los Angeles, CA | $64,205 Median Communication Earnings | $15,470 | 10.0% | 92.0% | |
| #15 | Fairfield UniversityPrivate | Fairfield, CT | $63,356 Median Communication Earnings | $32,161 | 45.0% | 83.8% |
| #16 | Troy, NY | $63,005 Median Communication Earnings | $21,009 | 58.5% | 83.2% | |
| #17 | Boston UniversityPrivate | Boston, MA | $62,893 Median Communication Earnings | $11,453 | 10.8% | 90.0% |
| #18 | St. Thomas Aquinas CollegePrivate | Sparkill, NY | $62,832 Median Communication Earnings | $13,977 | 82.2% | 62.6% |
| #19 | Rochester, NY | $62,796 Median Communication Earnings | $24,475 | 71.4% | 70.8% | |
| #20 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | Evanston, IL | $62,765 Median Communication Earnings | $1,243 | 7.1% | 95.9% |
