2026 Best Communication Media Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Communication Media Studies associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 1126 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Communication Media Studies Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Based in Albuquerque, NM, Central New Mexico Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Typical Communication Media Studies student debt is $10,112. Get the full Central New Mexico Community College report
You'll be in good company at Elizabethtown College, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Elizabethtown, PA, Elizabethtown College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Students from in state pay about $37,950 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete their Communication Media Studies program here. Read more about Elizabethtown College
Austin Community College District came in at #3 on this year's Communication Media Studies ranking in the United States. Set in Austin, TX, Austin Community College District is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Austin Community College District Communication Media Studies students take on a median of $14,519 in debt. See the full Austin Community College District profile
Out of the 1126 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Cuny Laguardia Community College landed the #4 spot. Cuny Laguardia Community College is a public school based in Long Island City, NY. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,218, while out-of-state students pay about $8,098. Graduates carry a median of $8,511 in student loans. Read more about Cuny Laguardia Community College
You'll be in good company at Nassau Community College, which ranked #5 this year. Nassau Community College is a public school based in Garden City, NY. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,330, compared with $12,130 for out-of-state students. The median Communication Media Studies program debt is $11,000. More on Nassau Community College
Utah Valley University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Media Studies schools. Utah Valley University is a public school based in Orem, UT. Utah Valley University graduates 40% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Typical Communication Media Studies student debt is $14,200. Get the full Utah Valley University report
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Media Studies schools. Located in New York, NY, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,170, with out-of-state students paying around $8,050. Graduates carry a median of $8,643 in student loans. Read more about Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College
Weber State University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Ogden, UT, Weber State University is a public institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. The median Communication Media Studies program debt is $16,566. Read the full report on Weber State University
San Diego Mesa College landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. Set in San Diego, CA, San Diego Mesa College is a public institution. San Diego Mesa College graduates 92% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Typical Communication Media Studies student debt is $6,999. More on San Diego Mesa College
Community College Of Philadelphia landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. Located in Philadelphia, PA, Community College Of Philadelphia is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,632, while out-of-state students pay about $12,744. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete their Communication Media Studies program here. Get the full Community College Of Philadelphia report
Full Sail University placed #11 among Communication Media Studies schools in the United States. Based in Winter Park, FL, Full Sail University is a private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,906. Full Sail University Communication Media Studies students take on a median of $31,211 in debt. Read more about Full Sail University
Columbus State University placed #13 among Communication Media Studies schools in the United States. This public school is set in Columbus, GA. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $5,898 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,610. Graduates carry a median of $29,500 in student loans. Read the full report on Columbus State University
Colorado Christian University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Colorado Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lakewood, CO. Colorado Christian University graduates 63% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $28,846 in tuition and fees. Colorado Christian University Communication Media Studies students take on a median of $26,000 in debt. More on Colorado Christian University
Sinclair Community College placed #15 among Communication Media Studies schools in the United States. Sinclair Community College is a public school based in Dayton, OH. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. The median Communication Media Studies program debt is $11,944. Read more about Sinclair Community College
Coahoma Community College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Read more about Coahoma Community College
Iowa Western Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Media Studies schools. Get the full Iowa Western Community College report
Keuka College
Keuka College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Media Studies schools. Read more about Keuka College
King College
King College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Media Studies schools. See the full King College profile
Southwestern University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Read more about Southwestern University
Barton College
Barton College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Media Studies schools. More on Barton College
Dallas Baptist University placed #21 among Communication Media Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Dallas Baptist University
Johnson C Smith University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Media Studies schools. Get the full Johnson C Smith University report
Letourneau University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Get the full Letourneau University report
University Of Memphis came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of Memphis
Marymount Manhattan College did well this year, earning the #25 position. Read the full report on Marymount Manhattan College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Communication Media Studies Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Onondaga Community College landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Onondaga Community College
Southern Utah University came in at #27 in this year's ranking. Get the full Southern Utah University report
Western Connecticut State University placed #28 among Communication Media Studies schools in the United States. See the full Western Connecticut State University profile
Merced College
Merced College placed #29 among Communication Media Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Merced College report
Regent University placed #30 among Communication Media Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Regent University
Rollins College
Rollins College placed #31 among Communication Media Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Rollins College
Drexel University did well this year, earning the #32 position. Read the full report on Drexel University
Kansas State University placed #33 among Communication Media Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Kansas State University
Nazareth College
Nazareth College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Media Studies schools. Get the full Nazareth College report
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Media Studies schools. Get the full Columbia University In The City Of New York report
Copper Mountain Community College came in at #36 in this year's ranking. Get the full Copper Mountain Community College report
Barry University
Barry University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Media Studies schools. See the full Barry University profile
Calumet College Of Saint Joseph came in at #38 in this year's ranking. Read more about Calumet College Of Saint Joseph
Dutchess Community College did well this year, earning the #39 position. More on Dutchess Community College
Pasadena City College came in at #40 in this year's ranking. See the full Pasadena City College profile
University Of South Carolina Aiken landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of South Carolina Aiken
University Of The District Of Columbia placed #42 among Communication Media Studies schools in the United States. Read more about University Of The District Of Columbia
York College Pennsylvania ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Media Studies schools. Get the full York College Pennsylvania report
Bluffton University placed #44 among Communication Media Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Bluffton University
California State University Fresno came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Read more about California State University Fresno
Herkimer County Community College landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Herkimer County Community College
Mclennan Community College placed #47 among Communication Media Studies schools in the United States. See the full Mclennan Community College profile
St Lawrence University landed the #48 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on St Lawrence University
Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Media Studies schools. Get the full Colorado State University Fort Collins report
Antelope Valley College came in at #50 in this year's ranking. Read more about Antelope Valley College
Related Communication Media Studies Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Communication Media Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Communication Media Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Communication Media Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Communication Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Communication Media Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Communication Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Communication Media Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1126 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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