2023 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
Finding the Best Communication & Media Studies School for You
With 66,787 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, communication and media studies is the #10 most popular major in the United States.
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. This report analyzed 145 schools in the Southeast Region to see which ones offered the best programs for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for communications majors pursuing a .
Top 15% Best Communication & Media Studies Schools
Our 2023 rankings named Wake Forest University the best school in the Southeast Region for communication and media studies students. Wake Forest University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Winston-Salem.
While working on their degree, communications majors at Wake Forest University accumulate an average of around $20,911 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $840, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Wake Forest University
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Elon University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the midsize suburb of Elon, Elon is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.
After completing their degree, communications graduates from Elon carry an average student debtload of $24,819. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $664.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Elon University
Request Information
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. UNC Chapel Hill is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Chapel Hill.
While working on their degree, communications majors at UNC Chapel Hill accumulate an average of around $16,500 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $361, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Report
Request Information
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend James Madison University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. JMU is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg.
While working on their degree, communications majors at JMU accumulate an average of around $21,500 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $440, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Communication & Media Studies at James Madison University Report
Request Information
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Virginia Tech is a great place for communication and media studies students. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech is a public school with a fairly large student population.
On average, communications graduates from Virginia Tech take out $21,500 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $444.
Request Information
Furman University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. Furman is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Greenville.
On average, communications graduates from Furman take out $20,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Furman University
Request Information
Samford University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. Samford is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Birmingham.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Samford University Report
Request Information
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best communication and media studies programs. Louisiana State University is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge.
After completing their degree, communications graduates from Louisiana State University carry an average student debtload of $21,500. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $296, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Request Information
With a ranking of #9, Appalachian State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State is a public college with a very large student population.
While working on their degree, communications majors at Appalachian State accumulate an average of around $22,931 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $150, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Appalachian State University
Request Information
University of Georgia came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the midsize city of Athens, UGA is a public college with a very large student population.
After completing their degree, communications graduates from UGA carry an average student debtload of $22,625. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $262, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Georgia Report
Request Information
Randolph - Macon College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best communication and media studies programs. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Randolph - Macon is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Communications majors at Randolph - Macon take out an average of $25,000 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $629.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Randolph - Macon College Report
Request Information
Christopher Newport University landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best communication and media studies programs. Located in the midsize city of Newport News, CNU is a public school with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that communications majors at CNU take out is $24,701. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $382, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Request Information
East Carolina University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the city of Greenville, ECU is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that communications majors at ECU take out is $24,673. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $298, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Communication & Media Studies at East Carolina University Report
Request Information
North Carolina State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. NC State is a very large public school located in the large city of Raleigh.
While working on their degree, communications majors at NC State accumulate an average of around $24,000 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $363.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at North Carolina State University
Request Information
With a ranking of #15, Roanoke College did quite well on this year’s best schools for communication and media studies students. Roanoke is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize suburb of Salem.
After completing their degree, communications graduates from Roanoke carry an average student debtload of $26,391.
Request Information
University of Florida ranked #16 on this year’s Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. UF is a very large public school located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville.
Request Information
Belmont University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #17 on the list. Belmont is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Nashville.
On average, communications graduates from Belmont take out $22,750 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $811.
Request Information
University of Arkansas landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best communication and media studies programs. Located in the small city of Fayetteville, UARK is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that communications majors at UARK take out is $23,559. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $293.
Request Information
Marymount University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the medium-sized city of Arlington, Marymount is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Marymount University Report
Request Information
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville ranked #20 on this year’s Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. UT Knoxville is a very large public school located in the midsize city of Knoxville.
After completing their degree, communications graduates from UT Knoxville carry an average student debtload of $19,500. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $471, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Request Information
With a ranking of #21, Tulane University of Louisiana did quite well on this year’s best schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Tulane take out is $21,250.
Request InformationHonorable Mentions
Here are some additional great schools for Communication & Media Studies students in the Southeast Region that almost earned our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | College of Charleston | Charleston, SC |
| 23 | Bellarmine University | Louisville, KY |
| 24 | King University | Bristol, TN |
| 25 | University of Kentucky | Lexington, KY |
| 26 | Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL |
| 27 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC |
| 28 | Mississippi College | Clinton, MS |
| 29 | The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL |
Best Communication & Media Studies Colleges by State
Explore the best communication and media studies schools for a specific state in the Southeast region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Georgia | 795 |
| Virginia | 2,064 |
| North Carolina | 2,972 |
| Florida | 3,020 |
| Tennessee | 1,000 |
| Kentucky | 787 |
| South Carolina | 796 |
| Louisiana | 815 |
| Arkansas | 457 |
| Alabama | 968 |
| Mississippi | 307 |
| West Virginia | 214 |
More Communication & Media Studies Rankings in the Southeast Region
Rankings in Majors Related to Communications
One of 5 majors within the area of study, communication and media studies has other similar majors worth exploring.
Most Popular Related Majors
| 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.
,_Helsinki_Finland_(11643271925).jpg){kind=link}
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.