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Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

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2023 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

142 Colleges
$32,771 Avg Salary
$23,915 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Communication & Media Studies School for You

In 2020-2021, 66,787 communication and media studies students received a degree or certificate, making the major the #10 most popular in the country.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 142 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region to see which ones offered the best programs for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for communications majors pursuing a .

Top 15% Best Communication & Media Studies Schools

#1

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

Our analysis found University of Pennsylvania to be the best school for communication and media studies students who want to pursue a degree in the Middle Atlantic Region . Located in the city of Philadelphia, UPenn is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that communications majors at UPenn take out is $19,500.

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

#2

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Johns Hopkins University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Johns Hopkins is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Baltimore.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Johns Hopkins University

#3

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

The excellent programs at Cornell University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best communication and media studies schools in the Middle Atlantic Region . Located in the small city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.

On average, communications graduates from Cornell take out $15,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Cornell University

Out of the 142 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, The Graduate Center, CUNY landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the city of New York, The Graduate Center is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

On average, communications graduates from The Graduate Center take out $19,937 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Communication & Media Studies at The Graduate Center, CUNY Report

#5

Villanova University

Villanova, PA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Villanova University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the large suburb of Villanova, Villanova is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.

While working on their degree, communications majors at Villanova accumulate an average of around $26,000 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $854.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Villanova University Report

Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Columbia is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of New York.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York

University of Delaware came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in the large suburb of Newark, UD is a public college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that communications majors at UD take out is $25,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $801.

Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Delaware Report

With a ranking of #8, University of Maryland - College Park did quite well on this year’s best schools for communication and media studies students. UMCP is a very large public school located in the large suburb of College Park.

On average, communications graduates from UMCP take out $18,250 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $727, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

University of Maryland Global Campus landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best communication and media studies programs. UMGC is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Adelphi.

Communications majors at UMGC take out an average of $26,897 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Maryland Global Campus Report

#10

George Washington University

Washington, DC

George Washington University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. GWU is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Washington.

On average, communications graduates from GWU take out $25,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Communication & Media Studies at George Washington University Report

#11

Loyola University Maryland

Baltimore, MD

Loyola University Maryland landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best communication and media studies programs. Located in the city of Baltimore, Loyola Maryland is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Loyola Maryland take out is $27,000. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $594, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Loyola University Maryland Report

With a ranking of #12, Rutgers University - New Brunswick did quite well on this year’s best schools for communication and media studies students. Rutgers New Brunswick is a fairly large public school located in the small city of New Brunswick.

While working on their degree, communications majors at Rutgers New Brunswick accumulate an average of around $25,000 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $309, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Rutgers University - New Brunswick Report

Catholic University of America came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in the large city of Washington, CUA is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.

While working on their degree, communications majors at CUA accumulate an average of around $26,500 in student debt.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Catholic University of America

The College of New Jersey landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best communication and media studies programs. Located in the suburb of Ewing, TCNJ is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Communications majors at TCNJ take out an average of $25,000 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $333, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Communication & Media Studies at The College of New Jersey Report

#15

Muhlenberg College

Allentown, PA

Muhlenberg College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Muhlenberg is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Allentown.

Communications majors at Muhlenberg take out an average of $26,241 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $344.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Muhlenberg College

Hobart and William Smith Colleges came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. The Colleges is a small private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Geneva.

While working on their degree, communications majors at The Colleges accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt.

Read More…

#17

American University

Washington, DC

American University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in the city of Washington, The American University is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that communications majors at The American University take out is $24,812.

Full Communication & Media Studies at American University Report

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best communication and media studies programs. Located in the fringe town of Kutztown, Kutztown University is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

After completing their degree, communications graduates from Kutztown University carry an average student debtload of $26,000. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $338.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

#19

Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown, PA

Elizabethtown College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best communication and media studies programs. Located in the large suburb of Elizabethtown, Etown is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Communications majors at Etown take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

#20

Marist College

Poughkeepsie, NY

With a ranking of #20, Marist College did quite well on this year’s best schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the large suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Marist take out is $25,069. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $638, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#21

Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, communications majors at Syracuse accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $495, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Syracuse University

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for Communication & Media Studies students in the Middle Atlantic Region that almost earned our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region award.

Rank College Location
22 Washington & Jefferson College Washington, PA
23 Juniata College Huntingdon, PA
24 Towson University Towson, MD
25 University of Scranton Scranton, PA
26 University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA
27 Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah, NJ
28 Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA

Best Communication & Media Studies Colleges by State

Explore the best communication and media studies colleges for a specific state in the Middle Atlantic region.

State Degrees Awarded
Pennsylvania 2,218
New York 4,480
Maryland 1,274
New Jersey 1,539
District of Columbia 200
Delaware 239

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

Related Major Annual Graduates
Public Relations & Advertising 21,099
Radio, Television & Digital Communication 17,669
Journalism 13,552
Communication & Journalism (Other) 1,128
Publishing 336

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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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