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2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

20 Ranked Colleges
555 Degrees Awarded
$18,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking.

Communication & Media Studies is the 74th most popular major in the country with 10,951 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Plains States region, there were 635 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 555 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking analyzed 20 colleges that offered a degree in communication and media studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent communication and media studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the communication and media studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region.

Top 20 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in the Plains States Region

#1

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of South Dakota. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. Vermillion, South Dakota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 48 students in 2019-2020.

USD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend USD is $18,555 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full USD Communication & Media Studies Report

#2

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winona State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Winona State University is a public institution located in Winona, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 50 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Winona State, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State University is $17,656 for plains states region bachelor’s degree media studies students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Winona State University

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minnesota State University - Mankato. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 40 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s media studies students in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State Mankato is $16,221 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Minnesota State Mankato

#4

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota
#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bemidji State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Bemidji State University is a small school located in Bemidji, Minnesota that handed out 12 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Bemidji State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,868 for plains states region bachelor’s degree media studies students per year to attend Bemidji State University.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Bemidji State University

#5

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Saint Cloud State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 58 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s media studies students in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Cloud State University is $14,267 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Saint Cloud State University

#9 in overall quality

Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 61 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,725 for plains states region bachelor’s degree media studies students per year to attend Missouri State.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Missouri State University - Springfield

#7

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri
#10 in overall quality

Lindenwood University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. Saint Charles, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree media studies students list, Lindenwood University has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,491 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students per year to attend Lindenwood University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Lindenwood University Communication & Media Studies Report

#7

Wayne State College

Wayne, Nebraska
#17 in overall quality

Wayne State College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Wayne, Nebraska, this small public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s media studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree media studies students list, WSC has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wayne State College is $13,765 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at WSC

#9

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, South Dakota
#18 in overall quality

Black Hills State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Spearfish, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

BHSU also took the #18 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,641 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students per year to attend Black Hills State University.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at BHSU

#10

University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, South Dakota
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of Sioux Falls did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Sioux Falls, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree media studies students list, University of Sioux Falls has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Sioux Falls is $19,893 for plains states region bachelor’s degree media studies students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Sioux Falls

#11

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas
#12 in overall quality

Washburn University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Topeka, Kansas, and it awarded 34 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree media studies students list, Washburn University has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,481 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students per year to attend Washburn University.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Washburn University

#12

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Concordia University, Saint Paul did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 14 degrees to qualified bachelors’s media studies students in 2019-2020.

Concordia University, Saint Paul also took the #13 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,245 for plains states region bachelor’s degree media studies students per year to attend Concordia University, Saint Paul.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Concordia University, Saint Paul

#13

Maryville University of Saint Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#8 in overall quality

Maryville University of Saint Louis landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Maryville U is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 8 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Maryville U also took the #8 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Maryville University of Saint Louis is $29,064 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Maryville University of Saint Louis

#14

Loras College

Dubuque, Iowa
#3 in overall quality

Loras College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #14. Loras College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Loras also took the #3 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Loras is $20,676 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Loras Communication & Media Studies Report

#15

Webster University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#11 in overall quality

Webster University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Webster is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 21 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Webster also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Webster University is $22,768 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Webster University Communication & Media Studies Report

#16

Hannibal - LaGrange University

Hannibal, Missouri
#20 in overall quality

Hannibal - LaGrange University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Hannibal - LaGrange University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hannibal, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree media studies students list, HLGU has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $20,256 for plains states region bachelor’s degree media studies students per year to attend Hannibal - LaGrange University.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Hannibal - LaGrange University Communication & Media Studies Report

#17

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#14 in overall quality

University of Missouri - St Louis ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. University of Missouri - St Louis is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 31 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMSL also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $9,435 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students per year to attend UMSL.

Full UMSL Communication & Media Studies Report

#18

Culver - Stockton College

Canton, Missouri
#19 in overall quality

Culver - Stockton College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. This small school is located in Canton, Missouri, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree media studies students list, Culver - Stockton has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $20,919 for plains states region bachelor’s degree media studies students per year to attend Culver - Stockton.

Full Culver - Stockton Communication & Media Studies Report

#19

Wartburg College

Waverly, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Wartburg College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Waverly, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 13 degrees to qualified bachelors’s media studies students in 2019-2020.

Wartburg also took the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wartburg is $21,787 for plains states region bachelor’s degree media studies students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Wartburg

#20

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

Macalester College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Macalester is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 9 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Macalester did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $28,426 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students per year to attend Macalester.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Macalester

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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