Best Universities for Media Studies in the World

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the World ranked based on their research performance in Media Studies. A graph of 3.44M citations received by 493K academic papers made by 1,385 universities in the World was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Media Studies

#1 in North America

#1 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

2. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Media Studies

#2 in North America

#1 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

3. London School of Economics and Political Science

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#1 in Europe

#1 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 9,218
Founded: 1895

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Media Studies

#3 in North America

#2 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

5. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Media Studies

#4 in North America

#2 in Canada

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

6. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Media Studies

#5 in North America

#3 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

7. University of Oxford

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#2 in Europe

#2 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

8. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Media Studies

#6 in North America

#4 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

9. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Media Studies

#7 in North America

#5 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

10. New York University

United States | New York State

For Media Studies

#8 in North America

#6 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

11. Stanford University

United States | California

For Media Studies

#9 in North America

#7 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

12. University College London

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#3 in Europe

#3 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

13. University of Amsterdam

Netherlands | Amsterdam

For Media Studies

#4 in Europe

#1 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 41,000
Founded: 1632

14. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Media Studies

#10 in North America

#8 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

15. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Media Studies

#11 in North America

#9 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

16. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Media Studies

#12 in North America

#10 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

17. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Media Studies

#13 in North America

#11 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

18. University of Cambridge

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#5 in Europe

#4 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

19. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Media Studies

#14 in North America

#12 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

20. University of Melbourne

Australia | Melbourne

For Media Studies

#1 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1853

21. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Media Studies

#15 in North America

#13 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

22. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Media Studies

#16 in North America

#14 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

23. University of Manchester

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#6 in Europe

#5 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1824

24. University of Sydney

Australia | Sydney

For Media Studies

#2 in Australia

Enrollment: 63,602
Founded: 1850

25. Australian National University

Australia | Canberra

For Media Studies

#3 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1946

26. University of Leeds

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#7 in Europe

#6 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1904

27. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Media Studies

#17 in North America

#15 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

28. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Media Studies

#18 in North America

#16 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

29. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Media Studies

#19 in North America

#17 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

30. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Media Studies

#20 in North America

#18 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

31. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Media Studies

#21 in North America

#19 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

32. University of Queensland

Australia | St Lucia

For Media Studies

#4 in Australia

Enrollment: 48,771
Founded: 1909

33. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Media Studies

#22 in North America

#20 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

34. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Media Studies

#23 in North America

#3 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

35. University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Media Studies

#8 in Europe

#7 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

36. University of Warwick

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#9 in Europe

#8 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

37. University of Glasgow

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Media Studies

#10 in Europe

#9 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1451

38. King's College London

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#11 in Europe

#10 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1829

39. Lancaster University

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#12 in Europe

#11 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

40. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Media Studies

#24 in North America

#21 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

41. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Media Studies

#25 in North America

#22 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

42. Cardiff University

United Kingdom | Wales

For Media Studies

#13 in Europe

#12 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1997

43. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Media Studies

#26 in North America

#23 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

44. University of Bristol

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#14 in Europe

#13 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

45. University of Liverpool

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#15 in Europe

#14 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

46. University of London

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#16 in Europe

#15 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

47. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Media Studies

#27 in North America

#24 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

48. University of Nottingham

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#17 in Europe

#16 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1948

49. University of Birmingham

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#18 in Europe

#17 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1900

50. University of Sheffield

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#19 in Europe

#18 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1905

51. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Media Studies

#28 in North America

#25 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

52. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Media Studies

#29 in North America

#26 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

53. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Media Studies

#30 in North America

#27 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

54. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Media Studies

#31 in North America

#28 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

55. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Media Studies

#32 in North America

#29 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

56. Durham University

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#20 in Europe

#19 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

57. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Media Studies

#33 in North America

#30 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

58. University of York

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#21 in Europe

#20 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

59. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Media Studies

#34 in North America

#31 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

60. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Media Studies

#35 in North America

#32 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

61. Newcastle University

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#22 in Europe

#21 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1963

62. George Washington University

United States | District of Columbia

For Media Studies

#36 in North America

#33 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

63. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Media Studies

#37 in North America

#34 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

64. Monash University

Australia | Clayton

For Media Studies

#5 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 1958

65. University of Leicester

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#23 in Europe

#22 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 24,409
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1957

66. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Media Studies

#38 in North America

#35 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

67. University of New South Wales

Australia | Sydney

For Media Studies

#6 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1949

68. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Media Studies

#39 in North America

#36 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

69. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Media Studies

#40 in North America

#37 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

70. Syracuse University

United States | New York State

For Media Studies

#41 in North America

#38 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

71. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Media Studies

#42 in North America

#4 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

72. Queensland University of Technology

Australia | Brisbane

For Media Studies

#7 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1989

73. Loughborough University

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#24 in Europe

#23 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

74. University of Essex

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#25 in Europe

#24 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1964

75. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Media Studies

#43 in North America

#39 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

76. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Media Studies

#44 in North America

#40 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

77. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Media Studies

#45 in North America

#41 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

78. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Media Studies

#46 in North America

#5 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

79. Goldsmiths, University of London

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#26 in Europe

#25 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1904

80. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Media Studies

#47 in North America

#42 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

81. University of East Anglia

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#27 in Europe

#26 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

82. California University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Media Studies

#48 in North America

#43 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $6,250
Enrollment: 6,885

83. National University of Singapore

Singapore | Singapore City

For Media Studies

#1 in Asia

#1 in Singapore

Enrollment: 30,098
Founded: 1905

84. Macquarie University

Australia | Sydney

For Media Studies

#8 in Australia

Enrollment: 38,747
Founded: 1964

85. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Media Studies

#49 in North America

#44 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

86. University of Exeter

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#28 in Europe

#27 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

87. La Trobe University

Australia | Melbourne

For Media Studies

#9 in Australia

Enrollment: 7,500
Founded: 1964

88. University of Kent

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#29 in Europe

#28 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1965

89. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Media Studies

#50 in North America

#45 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

90. University of Sussex

United Kingdom | England

For Media Studies

#30 in Europe

#29 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 17,319
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1961

91. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Media Studies

#51 in North America

#46 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

92. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Media Studies

#52 in North America

#47 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

93. University of Auckland

New Zealand | Auckland

For Media Studies

#10 in Oceania

#1 in New Zealand

Founded: 1883

94. Stockholm University

Sweden | Stockholm

For Media Studies

#31 in Europe

#1 in Sweden

Enrollment: 37,484
Founded: 1878

95. University of Copenhagen

Denmark | Copenhagen

For Media Studies

#32 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1479

96. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Media Studies

#53 in North America

#48 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

97. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Media Studies

#54 in North America

#49 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

98. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Media Studies

#55 in North America

#6 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

99. University of Zurich

Switzerland | Zurich

For Media Studies

#33 in Europe

#1 in Switzerland

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Enrollment: 25,732

100. University of Oslo

For Media Studies

#34 in Europe

#1 in Norway

Enrollment: 26,650
Founded: 1811

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in the World

Anthropology4117

Archaeology6040

Art History1941

Broadcast Journalism1052

Classics and Ancient History2556

Communications and Public Relations3255

Criminology and Criminal Justice1307

Early Childhood Education1039

Education Majors4239

Forensic Science1000

Gender Studies2091

Human Rights Law1000

Intellectual Property and Patent Law1054

International Law1021

International Relations and Diplomacy1024

Journalism and Digital Media1510

Law Enforcement1013

Library and Information science2980

Linguistics5870

Military science1139

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution1019

Occupational Safety and Health1027

Political Economy1244

Political Science6606

Public Policy / Administration1677

Radio and Television broadcasting1187

Social Work1028

Special Education1011

Sports / Exercise science1145

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies4103

Urban and Regional planning1321