[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value communication & media studies schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & media studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Washburn University the best value for a degree in communication & media studies in Kansas. Washburn University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Topeka. In-state tuition and fees average $9,945, compared with $20,949 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $21,875. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $39,932. Set against $21,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Kansas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $40,772 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
