[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 4 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.
Prince Georges Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools in Maryland. Prince Georges Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Largo. In-state tuition and fees average $4,034, while out-of-state students pay about $8,762. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $13,949. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Prince Georges Community College earn a median of $56,960 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,949 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Frostburg State University, which ranked #2. Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Frostburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,220, with out-of-state students paying around $25,814. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Frostburg State University generally make around $28,720. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Frostburg State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at University Of Maryland Baltimore County, which ranked #3. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. Students from in state pay about $13,256 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,225. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,389. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $30,737. That is a strong return on a $24,389 median debt. University Of Maryland Baltimore County admits about 72% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 4 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.
