[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communication-and-media-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communication & media studies students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & media studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Moorpark College earned the #1 spot for value among communication & media studies schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of San Mateo came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,428. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $12,831. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Orange Coast College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,392, while out-of-state students pay about $11,640. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $8,978. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Foothill College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,565, while out-of-state students pay about $12,590. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $11,595 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $94,152. That is a strong return on a $11,595 median debt.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,170, with out-of-state students paying around $8,050. Students borrow a median of $8,643 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earn a median of $26,437 early in their careers. Set against $8,643 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Nassau Community College landed the #6 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,330, while out-of-state students pay about $12,130. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Nassau Community College generally make around $29,016. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fullerton College placed #7 among the best values for communication & media studies. Fullerton College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,151, compared with $12,379 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $43,366 ten years out.
Snow College came in at #8 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,338, with out-of-state students paying around $14,288. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $10,440 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Snow College earn a median of $42,776 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,440 median debt.
Long Beach City College came in at #9 for value in communication & media studies this year. Long Beach City College is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Students from in state pay about $1,556 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,544. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,870. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Bunker Hill Community College placed #10 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,168, compared with $11,112 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $11,893 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Bunker Hill Community College generally make around $51,782. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gavilan College placed #11 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the rural area of Gilroy, Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,508 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,249. Students borrow a median of $5,939 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Gavilan College generally make around $28,496. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
John Tyler Community College landed the #12 spot for communication & media studies value this year. John Tyler Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Chester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,082, compared with $11,520 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $11,262 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $36,623. That is a strong return on a $11,262 median debt.
Chabot College earned the #13 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Chabot College is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,150, while out-of-state students pay about $8,686. Students borrow a median of $14,122 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $85,175. Set against $14,122 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sierra College placed #14 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,446 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,733 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $29,214. Set against $12,733 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Union County College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Cranford, Union County College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, compared with $9,500 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $7,350. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Union County College generally make around $21,484. That is a strong return on a $7,350 median debt.
Onondaga Community College came in at #16 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,102, with out-of-state students paying around $11,392. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $11,833 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Onondaga Community College earn a median of $35,781 early in their careers. Set against $11,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Glendale Community College Glendale Ca ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Ca is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,191, with out-of-state students paying around $10,935. Students borrow a median of $19,800 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,540. That is a strong return on a $19,800 median debt.
Community College Of Philadelphia earned the #18 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,632 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,744. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Community College Of Philadelphia generally make around $24,794. Set against $14,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Marin came in at #19 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Kentfield, College Of Marin is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,558, with out-of-state students paying around $9,334. Students borrow a median of $22,125 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $98,893. That is a strong return on a $22,125 median debt.
Rio Hondo College came in at #20 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the rural area of Whittier, Rio Hondo College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,388, while out-of-state students pay about $9,884. Students borrow a median of $15,510 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Rio Hondo College earn a median of $95,666 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,510 median debt.
College Of The Desert earned the #21 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Palm Desert, College Of The Desert is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,326, with out-of-state students paying around $10,174. Students borrow a median of $7,826 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $41,295. That is a strong return on a $7,826 median debt.
Full Sail University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,906. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $33,960 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $29,504. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Explore the best-value communication & media studies schools at other degree levels:
View All Communication & Media Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 ranked 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 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
