[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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.
Our analysis ranked The University Of Texas Pan American the best value for a degree in communication & media studies in the Southwest Region. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $11,956. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $26,748. That is a strong return on a $11,956 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
A rank of #2 makes Arizona State University one of the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $22,500. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $56,309. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Texas A And M University Texarkana, which ranked #3. Texas A And M University Texarkana is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Texarkana. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,349, compared with $24,680 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,270. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Texas A And M University Texarkana generally make around $44,862. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University Texarkana admits about 64% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Houston one of the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,777. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $57,529 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Tyler came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,512, compared with $24,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $15,021. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Tyler generally make around $27,586. Set against $15,021 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Stephen F Austin State University placed #6 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,128 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,968 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $45,743. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
East Central University placed #7 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the town of Ada, East Central University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,032, compared with $17,842 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,571. Communication & Media Studies graduates of East Central University earn a median of $24,638 early in their careers. Set against $24,571 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Midwestern State University earned the #8 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Wichita Falls, Midwestern State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,950, compared with $11,770 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Midwestern State University earn a median of $25,728 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus placed #9 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $45,009. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona earned the #10 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $19,750. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $42,993. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi earned the #11 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Texas A And M University Corpus Christi is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,748, while out-of-state students pay about $20,794. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Texas A And M University Corpus Christi generally make around $27,707. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M University Corpus Christi admits about 89% of applicants.
Sam Houston State University landed the #12 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, with out-of-state students paying around $19,068. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $28,247 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #13 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,110, compared with $25,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,337 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $50,993. That is a strong return on a $22,337 median debt. Oklahoma State University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $43,500. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Texas Tech University earned the #15 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $40,730 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Southern University earned the #16 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Houston, Texas Southern University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,637, with out-of-state students paying around $21,473. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $38,783. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Texas Southern University generally make around $33,963. That is a strong return on a $38,783 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Trinity University placed #17 among the best values for communication & media studies. Trinity University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,676. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,340. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Trinity University generally make around $34,589. That is a strong return on a $25,340 median debt. The acceptance rate is 26%.
University Of The Incarnate Word came in at #18 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, University Of The Incarnate Word is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,090. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of The Incarnate Word earn a median of $51,876 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Texas Wesleyan University landed the #19 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,582. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,461. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Texas Wesleyan University earn a median of $59,434 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,461 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Oral Roberts University earned the #20 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Tulsa, Oral Roberts University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,470. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $39,206. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
University Of Mary Hardin Baylor came in at #21 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Belton, University Of Mary Hardin Baylor is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,300. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Mary Hardin Baylor earn a median of $34,282 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Texas Christian University landed the #22 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,740. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $32,123. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas Christian University admits about 44% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
