[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communication-and-media-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 231 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communication & media studies students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the communication & media studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Cuny Hunter College, our #1 best value for communication & media studies in the United States. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $29,054. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,402 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $11,750 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $27,262 early in their careers. Set against $11,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Queens College earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $9,875 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $31,918 early in their careers. Set against $9,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $43,348. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
California State University Los Angeles came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,164 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $14,430. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $48,403. Set against $14,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Los Angeles admits about 91% of applicants.
Cuny Lehman College came in at #6 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,410, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,623 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $32,484. That is a strong return on a $14,623 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Florida International University landed the #7 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $52,517. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for communication & media studies. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $34,530. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus landed the #9 spot for communication & media studies value this year. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,168, compared with $43,404 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,433 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus generally make around $44,638. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus admits about 82% of applicants.
Indiana University Kokomo ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Kokomo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Indiana University Kokomo earn a median of $31,085 early in their careers. Set against $24,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas Pan American ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Students borrow a median of $11,956 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $26,748 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Florida State College At Jacksonville earned the #12 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $19,139. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $43,508 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University San Marcos earned the #13 position for value in communication & media studies this year. California State University San Marcos is a large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. Students from in state pay about $8,082 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,682 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $16,500. Communication & Media Studies graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of $36,310 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Berea College earned the #14 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Berea, Berea College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,658. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $5,801. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Berea College earn a median of $30,663 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Berea College admits about 19% of applicants.
University Of California Berkeley placed #15 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $11,180 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $43,696 early in their careers. Set against $11,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus earned the #16 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,919, compared with $43,155 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $16,433. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Washington Bothell Campus generally make around $44,638. That is a strong return on a $16,433 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas placed #17 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, compared with $27,411 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,624. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $32,365. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The University Of West Florida earned the #18 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,776, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from The University Of West Florida generally make around $30,850. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis placed #19 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $39,775. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Ohio University Lancaster Campus landed the #20 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the rural area of Lancaster, Ohio University Lancaster Campus is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,362, while out-of-state students pay about $9,444. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,063 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $43,312. Set against $24,063 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #21 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $37,808. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Indiana University East ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the town of Richmond, Indiana University East is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Students borrow a median of $24,462 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Indiana University East generally make around $37,463. Set against $24,462 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
University Of Georgia earned the #23 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $44,283 early in their careers. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $30,559 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.
Indiana University Southeast ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of New Albany, Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,500. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $26,777. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
These schools also delivered strong value for communication & media studies this year:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Communication & Media Studies rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 231 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 231 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.
