[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment 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 University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point, our #1 best value for communication & media studies in Wisconsin. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,248. Students borrow a median of $25,990 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $35,724. Set against $25,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $18,716. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn a median of $39,367 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $38,040 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #4. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $23,250. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $37,286 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Saint Norbert College one of the best values for communication & media studies. Saint Norbert College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of De Pere. In-state tuition and fees average $45,580. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,262. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Saint Norbert College generally make around $38,287. That is a strong return on a $26,262 median debt. Saint Norbert College admits about 86% of applicants.
Concordia University Wisconsin ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,470. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,172. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Concordia University Wisconsin generally make around $58,227. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Concordia University Wisconsin admits about 78% of applicants.
Marquette University landed the #7 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,170. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $23,531. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $36,443. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Marquette University admits about 81% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
