[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 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communication & media studies students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & media studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County earned the #1 spot for value among communication & media studies schools in Maryland. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,256, while out-of-state students pay about $31,225. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,389. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of $30,737 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,389 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Frostburg State University earned it the #2 place for communication & media studies. Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Frostburg. In-state tuition and fees average $10,220, while out-of-state students pay about $25,814. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. 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. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Washington College, which ranked #3. Washington College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Chestertown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,081. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,651. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Washington College earn a median of $37,940 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
More Communication & Media Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
