[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 3 schools to find the best return on investment for communication & media studies students.
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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.
Alcorn State University tops our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools in Mississippi. Located in the rural area of Alcorn State, Alcorn State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,785. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $29,600 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $27,087. Set against $29,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Jackson State University earned it the #2 place for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Jackson, Jackson State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,965 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,965 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $31,624 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Jackson State University generally make around $24,235. Set against $31,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mississippi College earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Clinton, Mississippi College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,500. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,463 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $47,611. That is a strong return on a $24,463 median debt. Mississippi College admits about 29% 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 · 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.
