[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communication-and-media-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong communication & media studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 44 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.
Cuny Hunter College tops our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $29,054. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,452, compared with $15,402 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,750 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $27,262. Set against $11,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Queens College earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. Cuny Queens College is a large public school located in the city of Queens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,538, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. Students borrow a median of $9,875 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $31,918. Set against $9,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Queens College admits about 64% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny Lehman College one of the best values for communication & media studies. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. Students from in state pay about $7,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $14,623 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $32,484. Set against $14,623 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
Nassau Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, compared with $12,130 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $11,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $29,016. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College placed #6 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,170, compared with $8,050 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $8,643. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $26,437. That is a strong return on a $8,643 median debt.
Union County College landed the #7 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Cranford, Union County College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $9,500. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $7,350 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Union County College generally make around $21,484. That is a strong return on a $7,350 median debt.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County came in at #8 for value in communication & media studies this year. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,256, while out-of-state students pay about $31,225. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,389 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $30,737. That is a strong return on a $24,389 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Onondaga Community College earned the #9 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,102 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,392 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $11,833 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $35,781. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny College At Oswego landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,825, with out-of-state students paying around $18,735. Students borrow a median of $25,163 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Suny College At Oswego generally make around $41,899. That is a strong return on a $25,163 median debt. Suny College At Oswego admits about 80% of applicants.
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania landed the #11 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the town of Bloomsburg. Students from in state pay about $11,046 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,870. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $31,419. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Stony Brook University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
Community College Of Philadelphia landed the #13 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $4,632, while out-of-state students pay about $12,744. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $14,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $24,794. Set against $14,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Frostburg State University came in at #14 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Frostburg, Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,220, while out-of-state students pay about $25,814. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $28,720. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
State University Of New York At New Paltz came in at #15 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,572, compared with $18,822 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $29,860. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #16 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,436 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $28,263 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Pennsylvania Western University earn a median of $45,448 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
William Paterson University Of New Jersey landed the #17 spot for communication & media studies value this year. William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the suburb of Wayne. In-state tuition and fees average $15,704, while out-of-state students pay about $25,344. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,439 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of William Paterson University Of New Jersey earn a median of $31,870 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,439 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University At Buffalo placed #18 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $22,251 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $39,226 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Delaware State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Dover, Delaware State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,670 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,634 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $30,098. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 47%.
Suny College At Oneonta earned the #20 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,831, compared with $19,781 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $23,250. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $27,973. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Suny College At Oneonta admits about 70% of applicants.
Suny At Purchase College earned the #21 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,016, while out-of-state students pay about $19,266. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Suny At Purchase College earn a median of $31,881 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earned the #22 position for value in communication & media studies this year. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the suburb of West Chester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,775, with out-of-state students paying around $22,599. Median earnings reach $61,258 ten years out. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania admits about 78% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. Students from in state pay about $15,356 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,875. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $34,181. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,206, with out-of-state students paying around $16,330. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $35,957. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania admits about 91% of applicants.
Allegheny College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of Meadville, Allegheny College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,550. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Allegheny College earn a median of $31,994 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 44 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 44 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.
