[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment 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.
Bunker Hill Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools in the New England Region. Bunker Hill Community College is a large public school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,168, with out-of-state students paying around $11,112. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $11,893 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Bunker Hill Community College earn a median of $51,782 early in their careers. Set against $11,893 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Worcester State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,786 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,866. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $34,235. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Southern Maine earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,090, while out-of-state students pay about $29,940. Students borrow a median of $22,623 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $35,920. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rhode Island College earned it the #4 place for communication & media studies. Rhode Island College is a large public school located in the suburb of Providence. Students from in state pay about $11,300 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,299. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Rhode Island College generally make around $34,357. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Salem State University earned it the #5 place for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,338, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Salem State University generally make around $34,302. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Salem State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Central Connecticut State University came in at #6 for value in communication & media studies this year. Central Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the suburb of New Britain. In-state tuition and fees average $13,050, while out-of-state students pay about $16,550. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $30,399. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Central Connecticut State University admits about 73% of applicants.
University Of Maine landed the #7 spot for communication & media studies value this year. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,057. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $37,192. Set against $26,057 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #8 position for value in communication & media studies this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,125 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $36,380. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Connecticut State University earned the #9 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,442 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,942. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Southern Connecticut State University generally make around $50,876. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Brown University earned the #10 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,312. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $10,500. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $23,738. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt. Brown University admits about 5% of applicants.
Saint Michaels College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Colchester, Saint Michaels College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,450 in tuition and fees. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,614 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Saint Michaels College earn a median of $30,747 early in their careers. Set against $26,614 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Michaels College admits about 84% of applicants.
Fisher College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Boston, Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,689. Students borrow a median of $27,625 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Fisher College generally make around $38,510. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fisher College admits about 71% of applicants.
Lasell College came in at #13 for value in communication & media studies this year. Lasell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Newton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,040. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Lasell College earn a median of $43,168 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Suffolk University came in at #14 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $47,550 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,670 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $57,261. That is a strong return on a $26,670 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Dean College landed the #15 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Franklin, Dean College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $46,526 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,969 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Dean College earn a median of $30,780 early in their careers. Set against $21,969 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Dean College admits about 74% of applicants.
Quinnipiac University earned the #16 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hamden. In-state tuition and fees average $55,480. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Quinnipiac University earn a median of $37,199 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Quinnipiac University admits about 72% of applicants.
Sacred Heart University placed #17 among the best values for communication & media studies. Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. Students from in state pay about $50,404 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,399. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Sacred Heart University generally make around $32,178. That is a strong return on a $26,399 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Landmark College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the rural area of Putney, Landmark College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $66,540. Students borrow a median of $23,375 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Median earnings reach $29,813 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $23,375 median debt. Landmark College admits about 49% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
