[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.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value communication & media studies schools.
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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.
Colorado State University Pueblo tops our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools in Colorado. Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public school located in the city of Pueblo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,720, with out-of-state students paying around $17,944. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $22,824. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $31,769. Set against $22,824 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Mesa State College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,927, with out-of-state students paying around $25,124. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,036 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $32,899 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,036 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Colorado State University Fort Collins earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,647 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $38,731 early in their careers. Set against $24,647 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $39,738 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at University Of Denver, which ranked #5. University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. In-state tuition and fees average $61,398. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Denver generally make around $50,009. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. University Of Denver admits about 78% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
