[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communication & media studies students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the communication & media studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Indiana University Kokomo the best value for a degree in communication & media studies in Indiana. Located in the city of Kokomo, Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $31,085. Set against $24,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $39,775 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Indiana University South Bend one of the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Indiana University South Bend earn a median of $38,094 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,258, while out-of-state students pay about $22,322. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $53,952 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Bloomington earned it the #5 place for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $36,700. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Depauw University placed #6 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the town of Greencastle, Depauw University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,070. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Depauw University earn a median of $46,127 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
More Communication & Media Studies Rankings
View All Communication & Media Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
