2027 Best Value Communications Schools in New York
[Communications](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communications/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for communications students.
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2027 Best Value Communications Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communications, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Communications Schools
Leading the list is Cuny Bernard M Baruch College, our #1 best value for communications in New York. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,464, while out-of-state students pay about $15,414. Students borrow a median of $7,892 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $36,367. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College admits about 48% of applicants.
Cuny City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communications, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $15,827. Communications graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $42,734 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,827 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Cuny College Of Staten Island came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value communications schools. Located in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,490, compared with $15,440 for out-of-state students. Communications graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Cuny College Of Staten Island generally make around $29,702. That is a strong return on a $13,500 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communications will find it at Mercy College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $22,880. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Mercy College generally make around $31,079. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Mercy College admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communications will find it at Stony Brook University, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Communications graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans. Communications graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,537 median debt. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Purchase College earned the #6 position for value in communications this year. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,016 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,266 for out-of-state students. Communications graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Early-career communications graduates make about $31,881. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Suny At Purchase College admits about 74% of applicants.
Le Moyne College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value communications schools. Located in the suburb of Syracuse, Le Moyne College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,330. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $25,000. Early-career communications graduates make about $34,050. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Le Moyne College admits about 83% of applicants.
Suny College At Cortland placed #8 among the best values for communications. Set in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,874 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,784. Students borrow a median of $23,874 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Suny College At Cortland generally make around $34,683. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Utica College placed #9 among the best values for communications. Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Utica. In-state tuition and fees average $26,930. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $27,000. Communications graduates of Utica College earn a median of $23,890 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Utica College admits about 92% of applicants.
Cornell University came in at #10 for value in communications this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $14,418. Early-career communications graduates make about $62,182. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Manhattan College placed #11 among the best values for communications. Manhattan College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,400. Communications graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Manhattan College generally make around $61,065. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Manhattan College admits about 79% of applicants.
Saint John Fisher College landed the #12 spot for communications value this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,190. Students borrow a median of $23,328 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Saint John Fisher College generally make around $30,233. That is a strong return on a $23,328 median debt. Saint John Fisher College admits about 66% of applicants.
St Johns University New York earned the #13 position for value in communications this year. St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Queens. Students from in state pay about $53,529 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $26,350. Communications graduates of St Johns University New York earn a median of $27,234 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #14 for value in communications this year. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,078. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $24,975. Early-career communications graduates make about $77,378. Set against $24,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Marymount Manhattan College placed #15 among the best values for communications. Set in the city of New York, Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,870. Communications graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Communications graduates of Marymount Manhattan College earn a median of $24,962 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Marymount Manhattan College admits about 83% of applicants.
Marist College came in at #16 for value in communications this year. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,620 in tuition and fees. Communications graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Marist College generally make around $41,818. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Fordham University landed the #17 spot for communications value this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,470. Students borrow a median of $25,700 to complete the communications program here. Early-career communications graduates make about $46,405. That is a strong return on a $25,700 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
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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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
