[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong communication & media studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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.
Austin Peay State University tops our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools in Tennessee. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,006, while out-of-state students pay about $14,766. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Austin Peay State University generally make around $34,582. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Austin Peay State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at The University Of Tennessee Martin, which ranked #2. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Martin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,560, while out-of-state students pay about $16,600. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,481. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $26,803. Set against $24,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Tennessee Martin admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Memphis came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,381 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $26,922. Set against $23,381 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Lane College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Lane College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jackson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. That is a strong return on a $37,241 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Middle Tennessee State University one of the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
East Tennessee State University came in at #6 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $33,111 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #7 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $20,875 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $41,258 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Belmont University placed #8 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,540. Students borrow a median of $22,125 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $41,889. Set against $22,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Belmont University admits about 95% 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
