[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.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value communication & media studies schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & media studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Bunker Hill Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools in Massachusetts. Set in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,168 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,112 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $11,893. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Bunker Hill Community College earn a median of $51,782 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,893 median debt.
Massasoit Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brockton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,376, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $10,894 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $42,938. Set against $10,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Worcester State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,786, compared with $17,866 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Worcester State University earn a median of $34,235 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Worcester State University admits about 88% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned it the #4 place for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,125. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $36,380. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
A rank of #5 makes Lasell College one of the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Newton, Lasell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $27,040 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $43,168. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Dean College came in at #6 for value in communication & media studies this year. Dean College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Franklin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,526. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $21,969. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Dean College earn a median of $30,780 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,969 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Emerson College earned the #7 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Boston, Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $57,056. Students borrow a median of $23,953 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $40,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 51%.
More Communication & Media Studies Rankings
View All Communication & Media Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 16 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.
