Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Associate Degree Schools

Find Schools Near

2023 Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Associate Degree Schools

289 Colleges
$23,317 Avg Salary
$13,029 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Communication & Media Studies Associate Degree School for You

In 2020-2021, 66,787 communication and media studies students received their degrees and certificates, 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. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Associate Degree Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 289 schools in the United States to see which ones were the most popular associate degree programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Communication & Media Studies program at each school on the list.

Check out the communications associate degree programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.

#1

Long Beach City College

Long Beach, CA

Our 2023 rankings named Long Beach City College the most popular school in the United States for communication and media studies students working on their associate degree. Long Beach City College is a very large public school located in the large city of Long Beach.

About 62% of the students majoring in communications at the school are women while 38% are male.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Long Beach City College

#2

Santa Monica College

Santa Monica, CA

The in-demand associate degree programs at Santa Monica College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular communication and media studies schools in the United States. SMC is a very large public school located in the small city of Santa Monica.

About 66% of the students majoring in communications at the school are women while 34% are male.

Read More…

#3

Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara, CA

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Santa Barbara City College is a great place for communication and media studies students working on their associate degree. SBCC is a large public school located in the city of Santa Barbara.

Of the 156 students majoring in communications at SBCC, 35% are male and 65% are female.

Read More…

#4

Orange Coast College

Costa Mesa, CA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Orange Coast College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Associate Degree Schools list. Orange Coast College is a large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa.

Women make up 62% of the communications majors at the school.

Read More…

#5

Chaffey College

Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Out of the 289 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Chaffey College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Chaffey College is a large public school located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga.

Women make up 67% of the communications majors at the school.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Chaffey College Report

#6

Pasadena City College

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena City College ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Associate Degree Schools list. Pasadena City College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Pasadena.

About 62% of the students majoring in communications at the school are women while 38% are male.

Communications majors at Pasadena City College take out an average of $13,844 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Pasadena City College Report

Mt. San Antonio College ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt. SAC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 59% of the communications majors at the school.

The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Mt. SAC take out while working on their Associate Degree is $9,222.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Mt. San Antonio College Report

#8

Saddleback College

Mission Viejo, CA

With a ranking of #8, Saddleback College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students working on their associate degree. Saddleback College is a large public school located in the large suburb of Mission Viejo.

About 62% of the students majoring in communications at the school are women while 38% are male.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Saddleback College Report

#9

Bakersfield College

Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Of the 119 students majoring in communications at Bakersfield College, 41% are male and 59% are female.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Bakersfield College

#10

Fullerton College

Fullerton, CA

Fullerton College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for communication and media studies students to get a associate degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Fullerton, Fullerton College is a public college with a large student population.

Of the 102 students majoring in communications at Fullerton College, 29% are male and 71% are female.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Fullerton College

With a ranking of #11, Borough of Manhattan Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students working on their associate degree. Located in the large city of New York, BMCC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

About 66% of the students majoring in communications at the school are women while 34% are male.

Communications majors at BMCC take out an average of $12,189 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Borough of Manhattan Community College Report

#11

El Camino College

Torrance, CA

El Camino College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree communication and media studies programs. Located in the large suburb of Torrance, El Camino College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 62% of the communications majors at the school.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at El Camino College

#11

Diablo Valley College

Pleasant Hill, CA

Diablo Valley College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley is a public school with a fairly large student population.

About 57% of the students majoring in communications at the school are women while 43% are male.

Read More…

#14

De Anza College

Cupertino, CA

De Anza College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree communication and media studies programs. Located in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 93 students majoring in communications at De Anza College, 34% are male and 66% are female.

Communications majors at De Anza College take out an average of $14,201 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at De Anza College

#15

Foothill College

Los Altos Hills, CA

Foothill College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for communication and media studies students to get a associate degree. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

About 56% of the students majoring in communications at the school are women while 44% are male.

Read More…

#16

College of the Canyons

Santa Clarita, CA

College of the Canyons ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College of the Canyons is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 71% of the communications majors at the school.

While working on their Associate Degree, communications majors at College of the Canyons accumulate an average of around $9,750 in student debt.

Read More…

#17

MiraCosta College

Oceanside, CA

MiraCosta College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree communication and media studies programs. MiraCosta College is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Oceanside.

Of the 77 students majoring in communications at MiraCosta College, 23% are male and 77% are female.

Read More…

#18

Sierra College

Rocklin, CA

Sierra College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree communication and media studies programs. Located in the large suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a public school with a large student population.

Of the 76 students majoring in communications at Sierra College, 37% are male and 63% are female.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Sierra College

#19

Moorpark College

Moorpark, CA

Moorpark College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Associate Degree Schools ranking. Moorpark College is a fairly large public school located in the midsize suburb of Moorpark.

About 61% of the students majoring in communications at the school are women while 39% are male.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Moorpark College

#20

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, CA

Golden West College ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

About 69% of the students majoring in communications at the school are women while 31% are male.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Golden West College Report

Central New Mexico Community College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree communication and media studies programs. CNM is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Albuquerque.

About 72% of the students majoring in communications at the school are women while 28% are male.

After completing their Associate Degree, communications graduates from CNM carry an average student debt load of $12,379.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Central New Mexico Community College Report

#22

San Diego Mesa College

San Diego, CA

With a ranking of #22, San Diego Mesa College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Of the 68 students majoring in communications at San Diego Mesa College, 37% are male and 63% are female.

On average, communications graduates from San Diego Mesa College take out $7,303 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Communication & Media Studies at San Diego Mesa College Report

#23

Sacramento City College

Sacramento, CA

Sacramento City College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree communication and media studies programs. Sacramento City is a fairly large public school located in the city of Sacramento.

Of the 66 students majoring in communications at Sacramento City, 44% are male and 56% are female.

Communications majors at Sacramento City take out an average of $14,181 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read More…

#24

Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, CA

Cuesta College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for communication and media studies students to get a associate degree. It came in at #24 on the list. Cuesta College is a medium-sized public school located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo.

Of the 64 students majoring in communications at Cuesta College, 33% are male and 67% are female.

Read More…

#24

Folsom Lake College

Folsom, CA

Folsom Lake College ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Associate Degree Schools list. Folsom Lake is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Folsom.

Of the 64 students majoring in communications at Folsom Lake, 47% are male and 53% are female.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Folsom Lake College Report

#26

Los Angeles Valley College

Valley Glen, CA
#27

Santiago Canyon College

Orange, CA
#27

Montgomery College

Rockville, MD
#29

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, CA
#30

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA
#30

Cabrillo College

Aptos, CA
#32

Irvine Valley College

Irvine, CA
#33

West Valley College

Saratoga, CA
#34

Southwestern College

Chula Vista, CA
#34

College of San Mateo

San Mateo, CA
#34

Salt Lake Community College

Salt Lake City, UT
#37

LaGuardia Community College

Long Island City, NY
#38

Cerritos College

Norwalk, CA
#38

Palomar College

San Marcos, CA
#40

East Los Angeles College

Monterey Park, CA
#40

Citrus College

Glendora, CA
#42

West Los Angeles College

Culver City, CA
#42

Union County College

Cranford, NJ

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Communication & Media Studies students that almost earned our Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Associate Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
45 Glendale Community College Glendale, CA
46 Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CA
47 Austin Community College District Austin, TX
48 Modesto Junior College Modesto, CA
49 SUNY Westchester Community College Valhalla, NY
50 Fresno City College Fresno, CA
50 Dutchess Community College Poughkeepsie, NY
50 Cypress College Cypress, CA
50 Collin County Community College District McKinney, TX
54 Reedley College Reedley, CA
55 Full Sail University Winter Park, FL
55 Norco College Norco, CA
57 Cosumnes River College Sacramento, CA

Communication & Media Studies by Region

View the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Associate Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

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.

  • 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.

Featured Schools

Find Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited colleges across the U.S.