[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communication-and-media-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong communication & media studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 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.
Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Whitewater the best value for a degree in communication & media studies in Wisconsin. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,616, compared with $18,716 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. 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. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earned it the #2 place for communication & media studies. 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. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,990. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn a median of $35,724 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,990 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $38,040. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. 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. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $37,286. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Saint Norbert College, which ranked #5. Saint Norbert College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of De Pere. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,580. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,262 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $38,287. That is a strong return on a $26,262 median debt. Saint Norbert College admits about 86% of applicants.
Marquette University placed #6 among the best values for communication & media studies. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,170. Students borrow a median of $23,531 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $36,443 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
