[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 72 schools to find the best return on investment for communication & media studies students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & media studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot for value among communication & media studies schools in the Southeast Region. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $17,669. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $58,996. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Florida International University, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $44,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $15,500. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $49,991. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 15%.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #4. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,500. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $34,530. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida State College At Jacksonville earned it the #5 place for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $19,139. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $43,508. Set against $19,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Berea College earned the #6 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Berea College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Berea. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,658. Students borrow a median of $5,801 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Berea College earn a median of $30,663 early in their careers. Set against $5,801 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of West Florida earned the #7 position for value in communication & media studies this year. The University Of West Florida is a large public school located in the rural area of Pensacola. Students from in state pay about $5,776 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of The University Of West Florida earn a median of $30,850 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
John Tyler Community College earned the #8 position for value in communication & media studies this year. John Tyler Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Chester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,082, with out-of-state students paying around $11,520. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $11,262 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from John Tyler Community College generally make around $36,623. Set against $11,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Peay State University landed the #9 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,006, while out-of-state students pay about $14,766. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $34,582. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,661, compared with $24,012 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $30,559 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The University Of Tennessee Martin landed the #11 spot for communication & media studies value this year. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Martin. Students from in state pay about $10,560 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,600. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,481 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $26,803. That is a strong return on a $24,481 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina A And T State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,813, with out-of-state students paying around $20,673. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,643 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $28,985. Set against $27,643 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Arkansas State University Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $48,847. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arkansas State University Main Campus admits about 82% of applicants.
Valdosta State University came in at #14 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,124, while out-of-state students pay about $17,836. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $29,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Valdosta State University generally make around $26,706. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Valdosta State University admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earned the #15 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,648, while out-of-state students pay about $7,648. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $29,663 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn a median of $26,411 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,663 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Georgia landed the #16 spot for communication & media studies value this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $38,717. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Alabama earned the #17 position for value in communication & media studies this year. University Of North Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Florence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,120, while out-of-state students pay about $22,320. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of North Alabama earn a median of $30,182 early in their careers. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,501, with out-of-state students paying around $24,849. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $27,682. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Mcneese State University placed #19 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Lake Charles, Mcneese State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,489 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,989 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $22,625 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Mcneese State University earn a median of $25,131 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,625 median debt. Mcneese State University admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Memphis came in at #20 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,728, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,381 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $26,922 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,381 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,266 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,329 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $29,877 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,329 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Lane College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Jackson, Lane College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,790. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $37,241 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Lane College earn a median of $26,497 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arkansas Tech University landed the #23 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,674 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,668. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,500. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $30,927. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arkansas Tech University admits about 96% of applicants.
Columbus State University landed the #24 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,898 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,610. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $29,500. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Columbus State University earn a median of $51,154 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
University Of The Cumberlands ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,875. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $19,331 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $27,754. Set against $19,331 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
These schools also delivered strong value for communication & media studies this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 72 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 72 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.
