Best Communication Colleges in Texas (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 43 Communication programs in Texas by median earnings of Communication graduates four years after completing. The University of Texas at Austin leads the list with median earnings of $69,690 after completing.
Across the 38 schools with a reported completion median, earnings range from $69,690 to $23,351, with a median of $50,186. For 4 of the listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 28 of the schools and private nonprofits for 15. Texas A & M International University posts the lowest average net price at $3,637.
The University of Texas at Arlington ranks 8th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Communication Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX | $69,690 | $19,857 | $12,553 | 26.6% |
| The University of Texas at Austin reports $69,690 in median earnings for its Communication graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate of 89% is the highest on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (506 graduates), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (277 graduates), Communication and Media Studies (234 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($80,221), Journalism ($61,145), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication ($52,860) | |||||
| 2 | Southern Methodist University · Dallas, TX | $68,862 | $40,892 | $23,544 | 63.4% |
| Southern Methodist University, a private nonprofit university in Dallas, ranks 2nd on this list and admits 63% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (120 graduates), Journalism (42 graduates), Communication and Media Studies (41 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($89,330) | |||||
| 3 | Texas Christian University · Fort Worth, TX | $65,969 | $36,660 | $17,956 | 44.5% |
| With an average net price of $36,660, Texas Christian University posts median earnings of $65,969 for its Communication graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (150 graduates), Communication and Media Studies (123 graduates), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (48 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($71,186), Communication and Media Studies ($63,531), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication ($61,636) | |||||
| 4 | Texas A&M University-College Station · College Station, TX | $63,935 | $21,315 | $12,784 | 57.4% |
| Texas A&M University-College Station ranks 4th on this list and reports a six-year completion rate of 84% alongside median earnings of $63,935 for its Communication graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (407 graduates), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (99 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($64,533) | |||||
| 5 | The University of Texas Permian Basin · Odessa, TX | $60,805 | $12,723 | $11,930 | 94.9% |
| The University of Texas Permian Basin reports median earnings of $60,805 for its Communication graduates four years after completing, and its average net price is $12,723. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (34 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($60,805) | |||||
| 6 | Baylor University · Waco, TX | $60,213 | $41,104 | $22,024 | 51.3% |
| Baylor University ranks 6th on this list with median earnings of $60,213 for its Communication graduates four years after completing, and its average net price is $41,104. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (176 graduates), Journalism (67 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Journalism ($63,622), Communication and Media Studies ($58,915) | |||||
| 7 | Trinity University · San Antonio, TX | $59,494 | $23,464 | $10,356 | 25.9% |
| Trinity University admits 26% of applicants, the lowest admission rate on the list, and its Communication graduates earn a median of $59,494 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (37 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($59,494) | |||||
| 8 | Southwestern University · Georgetown, TX | $59,372 | $29,224 | $22,478 | 43.1% |
| Southwestern University reports median earnings of $59,372 for its Communication graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 73%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (20 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($59,372) | |||||
| 9 | Texas Tech University · Lubbock, TX | $57,914 | $19,070 | $12,457 | 72.7% |
| Texas Tech University ranks 9th on this list with median earnings of $57,914 for its Communication graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $19,070. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (292 graduates), Communication and Media Studies (210 graduates), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (150 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($62,247), Communication and Media Studies ($58,196), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication ($50,279) | |||||
| 10 | University of Houston-Downtown · Houston, TX | $56,903 | $10,542 | $9,439 | 90.0% |
| University of Houston-Downtown reports an average net price of $10,542 and median earnings of $56,903 for its Communication graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (108 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($56,903) | |||||
| 11 | Texas State University · San Marcos, TX | $55,547 | $16,805 | $12,715 | 89.3% |
| Texas State University ranks 11th on this list, with a six-year completion rate of 55% and median earnings of $55,547 for its Communication graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (386 graduates), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (217 graduates), Communication and Media Studies (92 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($59,009), Journalism ($57,963), Communication and Media Studies ($53,009) | |||||
| 12 | Saint Edward's University · Austin, TX | $54,315 | $25,578 | $20,799 | 81.4% |
| Saint Edward's University reports median earnings of $54,315 for its Communication graduates four years after completing, and its average net price is $25,578. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (59 graduates), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (17 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($54,558), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication ($53,473) | |||||
| 13 | University of Houston · Houston, TX | $53,281 | $14,276 | $10,929 | 73.9% |
| University of Houston reports $53,281 in median earnings for its Communication graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $14,276. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (208 graduates), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (101 graduates), Journalism (59 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($60,180), Journalism ($53,195), Communication and Media Studies ($49,545) | |||||
| 14 | The University of Texas at San Antonio · San Antonio, TX | $53,267 | $10,836 | $7,870 | 86.8% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 53%, The University of Texas at San Antonio ranks 14th on this list and posts median earnings of $53,267 for its Communication graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (296 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($53,267) | |||||
| 15 | Texas A&M University-Victoria · Victoria, TX | $52,435 | $8,109 | $5,317 | 95.9% |
| Texas A&M University-Victoria admits 96% of applicants and shows median earnings of $52,435 for its Communication graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (39 graduates) | |||||
| 16 | University of St Thomas · Houston, TX | $50,859 | $19,359 | $18,441 | 89.9% |
| A private nonprofit university in Houston, University of St Thomas ranks 421st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $19,359. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (15 graduates) | |||||
| 17 | Texas A&M University-San Antonio · San Antonio, TX | $50,856 | $11,196 | $9,596 | 92.8% |
| Texas A&M University-San Antonio posts median earnings of $50,856 for its Communication graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $9,596 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (57 graduates) | |||||
| 18 | Tarleton State University · Stephenville, TX | $50,385 | $20,783 | $15,574 | 89.6% |
| Ranking 18th on this list, Tarleton State University graduates 48% of its students within six years and reports median earnings of $50,385 for its Communication graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (75 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($50,385) | |||||
| 19 | Stephen F Austin State University · Nacogdoches, TX | $50,302 | $14,260 | $10,318 | 94.0% |
| Stephen F Austin State University reports an average net price of $14,260 and median earnings of $50,302 for its Communication graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (62 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($50,302) | |||||
| 20 | The University of Texas at Tyler · Tyler, TX | $50,247 | $13,323 | $10,307 | 94.0% |
| With an admission rate of 94%, The University of Texas at Tyler ranks 161st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts median earnings of $50,247 for its Communication graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (36 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($50,247) | |||||
| 21 | Sam Houston State University · Huntsville, TX | $50,125 | $16,404 | $12,474 | 90.3% |
| Sam Houston State University reports median earnings of $50,125 for its Communication graduates four years after completing, alongside a six-year completion rate of 55%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (186 graduates), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($50,125) | |||||
| 22 | University of Houston-Clear Lake · Houston, TX | $49,841 | $15,563 | $7,330 | 90.5% |
| Ranking 22nd on this list, University of Houston-Clear Lake shows an average net price of $7,330 for families earning under $30,000 and median earnings of $49,841 for its Communication graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (36 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($49,841) | |||||
| 23 | Lamar University · Beaumont, TX | $49,746 | $9,366 | $7,568 | 86.4% |
| Lamar University admits 86% of applicants and reports an average net price of $9,366, with median earnings of $49,746 for its Communication graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (53 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($49,746) | |||||
| 24 | University of North Texas · Denton, TX | $49,554 | $15,649 | $12,311 | 72.2% |
| University of North Texas ranks 41st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts median earnings of $49,554 for its Communication graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Journalism (267 graduates), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (246 graduates), Communication and Media Studies (109 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Journalism ($57,461), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication ($40,972) | |||||
| 25 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor · Belton, TX | $49,545 | $26,106 | $22,089 | 95.8% |
| On this list, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor ranks 25th and reports median earnings of $49,545 for its Communication graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (16 graduates) | |||||
| 26 | Prairie View A & M University · Prairie View, TX | $48,887 | $13,570 | $12,120 | 79.3% |
| A public university in Prairie View, Prairie View A & M University reports an average net price of $13,570 and admits 79% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (57 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($48,887) | |||||
| 27 | Dallas Baptist University · Dallas, TX | $48,169 | $28,516 | $25,326 | 88.8% |
| Dallas Baptist University reports median earnings of $48,169 for its Communication graduates four years after completing and a six-year completion rate of 57%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (27 graduates), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (8 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($48,598), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication ($46,723) | |||||
| 28 | Texas Southern University · Houston, TX | $47,725 | $16,590 | $16,437 | 96.9% |
| With an admission rate of 97%, Texas Southern University graduates 22% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (46 graduates), Journalism (21 graduates), Communication and Media Studies (15 graduates) | |||||
| 29 | Midwestern State University · Wichita Falls, TX | $47,651 | $11,656 | $8,856 | 93.5% |
| Midwestern State University ranks 304th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $47,651 for its Communication graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (27 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($47,651) | |||||
| 30 | Abilene Christian University · Abilene, TX | $46,795 | $26,182 | $20,285 | 66.0% |
| Abilene Christian University graduates 59% of its students within six years and admits 66% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (23 graduates), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (7 graduates), Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (6 graduates) | |||||
| 31 | The University of Texas at El Paso · El Paso, TX | $45,553 | $9,403 | $7,863 | 99.9% |
| The average net price at The University of Texas at El Paso is $9,403, and its Communication graduates earn $45,553 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (85 graduates), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (68 graduates), Communication and Media Studies (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($49,558), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication ($36,373) | |||||
| 32 | Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi · Corpus Christi, TX | $42,921 | $15,225 | $11,445 | 88.6% |
| Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi reports median earnings of $42,921 for its Communication graduates four years after completing and admits 89% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (63 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($42,921) | |||||
| 33 | West Texas A & M University · Canyon, TX | $42,024 | $19,487 | $16,525 | 98.7% |
| A public university in Canyon, West Texas A & M University reports an average net price of $19,487 and ranks 458th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (18 graduates), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (17 graduates), Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (6 graduates) | |||||
| 34 | Texas A & M International University · Laredo, TX | $41,350 | $3,637 | $3,097 | 44.4% |
| Texas A & M International University reports median earnings of $41,350 for its Communication graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $3,097 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (28 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($41,350) | |||||
| 35 | Angelo State University · San Angelo, TX | $41,091 | $15,091 | $12,008 | 83.0% |
| Angelo State University admits 83% of applicants and reports an average net price of $15,091. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (29 graduates), Journalism (5 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($43,002) | |||||
| 36 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · Edinburg, TX | $39,940 | $4,831 | $3,785 | 94.2% |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley reports median earnings of $39,940 for its Communication graduates four years after completing and ranks 11th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (142 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($39,940) | |||||
| 37 | University of the Incarnate Word · San Antonio, TX | $39,660 | $22,775 | $19,260 | 98.1% |
| University of the Incarnate Word reports median earnings of $39,660 for its Communication graduates four years after completing, alongside a six-year completion rate of 51%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (17 graduates), Journalism (5 graduates), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (5 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($39,660) | |||||
| 38 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville · Kingsville, TX | $37,038 | $12,090 | $10,207 | 90.9% |
| With an average net price of $12,090, Texas A&M University-Kingsville admits 91% of applicants and ranks 281st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($37,038) | |||||
| 39 | St. Mary's University · San Antonio, TX | $34,526 | $21,145 | $18,352 | 97.8% |
| St. Mary's University posts a six-year completion rate of 59% and median earnings of $34,526 for its Communication graduates two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (23 graduates) | |||||
| 40 | The University of Texas at Arlington · Arlington, TX | $32,990 | $13,951 | $11,893 | 79.9% |
| The University of Texas at Arlington ranks 8th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows an average net price of $11,893 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (215 graduates) | |||||
| 41 | Texas Lutheran University · Seguin, TX | $31,848 | $24,654 | $20,512 | 95.7% |
| A private nonprofit university in Seguin, Texas Lutheran University reports median earnings of $31,848 for its Communication graduates two years after completing and an admission rate of 96%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (6 graduates) | |||||
| 42 | Concordia University Texas · Austin, TX | $31,133 | $23,131 | $18,764 | 91.3% |
| Concordia University Texas admits 91% of applicants and reports median earnings of $31,133 for its Communication graduates two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (9 graduates) | |||||
| 43 | Austin College · Sherman, TX | $23,351 | $21,107 | $16,528 | 47.7% |
| Austin College graduates 67% of its students within six years and reports median earnings of $23,351 for its Communication graduates two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (19 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Communication graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figures are medians for federally aided Communication graduates who were working and not enrolled, measured after completing. For 4 of the 43 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The figures cited on this page cover the 38 schools with a reported completion median. The University of Texas at Austin leads at $69,690, and the spread from that top figure to the lowest, $23,351, is $46,339.