Best colleges for communications and journalism in North Carolina
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in communication, journalism, or a related field, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for communications and journalism in North Carolina42 schools
42 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in North Carolina.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in communication and journalism, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Duke University
Durham, NC · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 23%
- 2
Davidson College
Davidson, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- 3
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- 4
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 42%
- 5
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade A- · Top 11%
- 6
Elon University
Elon, NC · Private nonprofitTop 8% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade C+
- 7
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 8
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · PublicTop 15% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 9
High Point University
High Point, NC · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade C+
- 10
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · PublicTop 22% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 23%
- 11
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 12
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit#16 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade C+
- 13
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · Public#17 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 14
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC · Public#18 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 15
University of North Carolina Asheville
Asheville, NC · PublicTop 22% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 16
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC · PublicTop 18% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 17
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC · PublicTop 17% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 46%
- 18
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC · Private nonprofit#22 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 19
Salem College
Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofit#24 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 20
Catawba College
Salisbury, NC · Private nonprofit#26 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 21Tie
Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC · Private nonprofit#27 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B
- 21Tie
William Peace University
Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofit#27 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 23
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, NC · PublicTop 7% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 39%
- 24Tie
University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, NC · Private nonprofit#30 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 24Tie
Wingate University
Wingate, NC · Private nonprofit#30 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke University | About $30,000 | $13,000 | $97,800 | 97% |
| Davidson College | About $17,000 | $18,688 | $81,400 | 91% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | About $12,000 | $14,000 | $72,200 | 91% |
| Wake Forest University | About $29,000 | $21,500 | $78,158 | 89% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | About $17,000 | $20,121 | $68,758 | 85% |
| Elon University | About $42,000 | $20,500 | $74,545 | 84% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | About $20,000 | $19,500 | $54,967 | 71% |
| Appalachian State University | About $17,000 | $20,231 | $51,836 | 75% |
| High Point University | About $39,000 | $24,575 | $61,389 | 74% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | About $15,000 | $21,500 | $57,289 | 69% |
| Meredith College | About $22,000 | $25,000 | $51,539 | 70% |
| Queens University of Charlotte | About $31,000 | $25,000 | $57,673 | 61% |
| East Carolina University | About $16,000 | $22,750 | $55,146 | 63% |
| Western Carolina University | About $13,000 | $21,868 | $49,458 | 60% |
| University of North Carolina Asheville | About $12,000 | $20,500 | $44,030 | 54% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | About $11,000 | $22,858 | $48,160 | 56% |
| North Carolina A & T State University | About $11,000 | $27,000 | $44,440 | 57% |
| Campbell University | About $25,000 | $22,500 | $54,886 | 61% |
| Salem College | About $18,000 | $26,649 | $44,640 | 57% |
| Catawba College | About $18,000 | $25,000 | $48,793 | 47% |
| Gardner-Webb University | About $18,000 | $24,222 | $48,039 | 55% |
| William Peace University | About $22,000 | $22,250 | $46,643 | 45% |
| Elizabeth City State University | About $6,000 | $21,463 | $40,026 | 44% |
| University of Mount Olive | About $19,000 | $27,209 | $47,139 | 52% |
| Wingate University | About $21,000 | $25,000 | $52,649 | 46% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 21
- Alaska 3
- Arizona 9
- Arkansas 18
- California 70
- Colorado 13
- Connecticut 19
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 7
- Florida 39
- Georgia 38
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 48
- Indiana 39
- Iowa 25
- Kansas 21
- Kentucky 25
- Louisiana 18
- Maine 6
- Maryland 18
- Massachusetts 38
- Michigan 36
- Minnesota 29
- Mississippi 14
- Missouri 38
- Montana 4
- Nebraska 14
- Nevada 3
- New Hampshire 10
- New Jersey 23
- New Mexico 4
- New York 82
- North Dakota 8
- Ohio 59
- Oklahoma 20
- Oregon 17
- Pennsylvania 90
- Puerto Rico 12
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 25
- South Dakota 6
- Tennessee 29
- Texas 64
- Utah 8
- Vermont 7
- Virginia 34
- Washington 19
- West Virginia 12
- Wisconsin 27