2026 Best Communication Journalism Media Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Communication Journalism Media associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 1525 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Communication Journalism Media Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
No school ranked higher than Central New Mexico Community College this year in the United States. Central New Mexico Community College is a public school based in Albuquerque, NM. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete their Communication Journalism Media program here. See the full Central New Mexico Community College profile
You'll be in good company at Wilmington University, which ranked #2 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in New Castle, DE. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,630. Students borrow a median of $32,308 to complete their Communication Journalism Media program here. Get the full Wilmington University report
The strong Communication Journalism Media programs at Franklin University earned it the #3 place in the United States. Based in Columbus, OH, Franklin University is a private not-for-profit institution. Franklin University posts a six-year graduation rate of 3%. Students from in state pay about $9,577 in tuition and fees. Typical Communication Journalism Media student debt is $42,017. More on Franklin University
You'll be in good company at Austin Community College District, which ranked #4 this year. This public school is set in Austin, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Students borrow a median of $8,627 to complete their Communication Journalism Media program here. Read more about Austin Community College District
You'll be in good company at Elizabethtown College, which ranked #5 this year. Elizabethtown College is a private not-for-profit school based in Elizabethtown, PA. Elizabethtown College graduates 76% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,950. Graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. See the full Elizabethtown College profile
Fashion Institute Of Technology landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Based in New York, NY, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,174, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans. Read the full report on Fashion Institute Of Technology
Cuny Laguardia Community College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Long Island City, NY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,218, compared with $8,098 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,511 to complete their Communication Journalism Media program here. More on Cuny Laguardia Community College
Nassau Community College landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Set in Garden City, NY, Nassau Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,330, compared with $12,130 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete their Communication Journalism Media program here. See the full Nassau Community College profile
Utah Valley University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in Orem, UT, Utah Valley University is a public institution. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $14,200 in student loans. See the full Utah Valley University profile
Northwestern College Minnesota did well this year, earning the #10 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Paul, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,920. The median Communication Journalism Media program debt is $21,639. More on Northwestern College Minnesota
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Journalism Media schools. Located in New York, NY, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,170 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,050 for out-of-state students. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College Communication Journalism Media students take on a median of $8,643 in debt. More on Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College
Weber State University landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Set in Ogden, UT, Weber State University is a public institution. Weber State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 47%. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Typical Communication Journalism Media student debt is $16,566. Read more about Weber State University
San Diego Mesa College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in San Diego, CA, San Diego Mesa College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. See the full San Diego Mesa College profile
Community College Of Philadelphia landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Philadelphia, PA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,632, while out-of-state students pay about $12,744. The median Communication Journalism Media program debt is $14,000. Get the full Community College Of Philadelphia report
Full Sail University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Journalism Media schools. This private for-profit school is set in Winter Park, FL. About 45% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $26,906. The median Communication Journalism Media program debt is $31,999. Get the full Full Sail University report
Columbus State University did well this year, earning the #17 position. This public school is set in Columbus, GA. Columbus State University graduates 43% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $5,898 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,610 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete their Communication Journalism Media program here. See the full Columbus State University profile
Academy Of Art University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Journalism Media schools. Academy Of Art University is a private for-profit school based in San Francisco, CA. Academy Of Art University posts a six-year graduation rate of 34%. Students from in state pay about $30,736 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete their Communication Journalism Media program here. Get the full Academy Of Art University report
Evangel University did well this year, earning the #19 position. Located in Springfield, MO, Evangel University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,548. Typical Communication Journalism Media student debt is $27,000. Get the full Evangel University report
Colorado Christian University did well this year, earning the #20 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lakewood, CO. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. In-state tuition and fees run about $28,846. The median Communication Journalism Media program debt is $26,000. More on Colorado Christian University
Immaculata University landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Located in Immaculata, PA, Immaculata University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,980. The median Communication Journalism Media program debt is $27,738. Read the full report on Immaculata University
Sinclair Community College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Dayton, OH. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Typical Communication Journalism Media student debt is $11,944. More on Sinclair Community College
Miami Media School came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Doral, FL. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete their Communication Journalism Media program here. See the full Miami Media School profile
Community College Of Vermont landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Community College Of Vermont
Middle Georgia State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Journalism Media schools. See the full Middle Georgia State University profile
Muhlenberg College placed #25 among Communication Journalism Media schools in the United States. Read the full report on Muhlenberg College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Communication Journalism Media Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Saint Marys University Of Minnesota
Cuny Hunter College did well this year, earning the #27 position. Get the full Cuny Hunter College report
Fresno City College came in at #28 in this year's ranking. More on Fresno City College
Lorain County Community College did well this year, earning the #29 position. See the full Lorain County Community College profile
St Petersburg College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Journalism Media schools. Read the full report on St Petersburg College
College Of Marin
College Of Marin ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Journalism Media schools. More on College Of Marin
Idaho State University landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Idaho State University
Indiana University Bloomington did well this year, earning the #33 position. Read more about Indiana University Bloomington
Lewis Clark State College landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. More on Lewis Clark State College
Methodist University landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Methodist University report
Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus did well this year, earning the #36 position. More on Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus
Suny College At Brockport did well this year, earning the #37 position. See the full Suny College At Brockport profile
Trinity International University Illinois did well this year, earning the #38 position. Read the full report on Trinity International University Illinois
Valparaiso University placed #39 among Communication Journalism Media schools in the United States. More on Valparaiso University
Central Baptist College did well this year, earning the #40 position. Read the full report on Central Baptist College
High Plains Technology Center placed #41 among Communication Journalism Media schools in the United States. Read more about High Plains Technology Center
North Carolina Wesleyan College placed #42 among Communication Journalism Media schools in the United States. Read more about North Carolina Wesleyan College
Seton Hill University landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Seton Hill University
University Of Toledo did well this year, earning the #44 position. See the full University Of Toledo profile
Bellarmine University placed #45 among Communication Journalism Media schools in the United States. More on Bellarmine University
Crowder College
Crowder College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Journalism Media schools. See the full Crowder College profile
Madison Area Technical College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Journalism Media schools. More on Madison Area Technical College
Curry College
Curry College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Communication Journalism Media schools. More on Curry College
East Central University did well this year, earning the #49 position. More on East Central University
University Of Guam landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Guam
Related Communication Journalism Media Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Communication Journalism Media Schools (All Levels)
- Best Communication Journalism Media Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Communication Journalism Media Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Communication Journalism Media Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Communication Journalism Media Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Communication Journalism Media Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Communication Journalism Media Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 1525 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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