2027 Best Value Communications Schools in the Southeast Region
[Communications](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communications/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 40 schools to find the best return on investment for communications students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Communications Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communications, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Communications Schools
University Of North Florida earned the #1 spot for value among communications schools in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,964, compared with $19,407 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,345 to complete the communications program here. Communications graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $36,842 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Arkansas State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value communications schools. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $21,250. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Arkansas State University Main Campus generally make around $40,192. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Tennessee Martin one of the best values for communications. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,560, with out-of-state students paying around $16,600. Students borrow a median of $24,481 to complete the communications program here. Communications graduates of The University Of Tennessee Martin earn a median of $26,803 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value communications schools. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public school located in the city of Chattanooga. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,448, while out-of-state students pay about $18,512. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $21,831. Early-career communications graduates make about $33,082. That is a strong return on a $21,831 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communications will find it at University Of Louisiana Monroe, which ranked #5. University Of Louisiana Monroe is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Monroe. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,190, while out-of-state students pay about $21,290. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $25,000. Early-career communications graduates make about $21,460. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Columbus State University landed the #6 spot for communications value this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,898, compared with $17,610 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Columbus State University generally make around $32,078. That is a strong return on a $29,500 median debt. Columbus State University admits about 99% of applicants.
Davidson College earned the #7 position for value in communications this year. Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Davidson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,430. Communications graduates carry a median of $19,906 in student loans. Early-career communications graduates make about $41,505. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Davidson College admits about 13% of applicants.
Georgetown College placed #8 among the best values for communications. Set in the town of Georgetown, Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,840. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $26,750. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Georgetown College generally make around $35,442. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Appalachian State University came in at #9 for value in communications this year. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,579, compared with $25,212 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the communications program here. Early-career communications graduates make about $42,340. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Jacksonville State University earned the #10 position for value in communications this year. Set in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,894, while out-of-state students pay about $23,334. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $24,750. Communications graduates of Jacksonville State University earn a median of $35,147 early in their careers. Set against $24,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Jacksonville State University admits about 78% of applicants.
East Tennessee State University landed the #11 spot for communications value this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,216, compared with $13,726 for out-of-state students. Communications graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $45,444. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Edward Waters College came in at #12 for value in communications this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Edward Waters College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,366. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,782 ten years after entry. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Tennessee State University earned the #13 position for value in communications this year. Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $22,416. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $30,625. Communications graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median of $25,140 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tennessee State University admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Central Arkansas earned the #14 position for value in communications this year. Located in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,523, compared with $18,023 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communications program here. Communications graduates of University Of Central Arkansas earn a median of $28,490 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Central Arkansas admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Mary Washington earned the #15 position for value in communications this year. Set in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,905, compared with $28,083 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $22,825. Early-career communications graduates make about $43,243. Set against $22,825 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Military College Milledgeville landed the #16 spot for communications value this year. Set in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia Military College Milledgeville is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,605. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $13,587. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Georgia Military College Milledgeville generally make around $29,788. Set against $13,587 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Alabama At Huntsville placed #17 among the best values for communications. Set in the city of Huntsville, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,132, while out-of-state students pay about $26,408. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $24,797. Early-career communications graduates make about $41,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Oglethorpe University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value communications schools. Oglethorpe University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Atlanta. In-state tuition and fees average $47,590. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $26,800. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Oglethorpe University generally make around $34,113. Set against $26,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Alice Lloyd College came in at #19 for value in communications this year. Located in the rural area of Pippa Passes, Alice Lloyd College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,960. Median earnings reach $40,573 ten years out. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Southeast Arkansas College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value communications schools. Located in the town of Pine Bluff, Southeast Arkansas College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $5,200 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,650. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $12,008. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Southeast Arkansas College generally make around $30,715. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Asbury University came in at #21 for value in communications this year. Located in the town of Wilmore, Asbury University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,640. Students borrow a median of $28,104 to complete the communications program here. Communications graduates of Asbury University earn a median of $50,086 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,104 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Ouachita Baptist University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value communications schools. Set in the town of Arkadelphia, Ouachita Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,500. Communications graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Communications graduates of Ouachita Baptist University earn a median of $34,574 early in their careers. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Barry University earned the #23 position for value in communications this year. Barry University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Miami. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,350. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $31,180. Communications graduates of Barry University earn a median of $64,906 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,180 median debt. Barry University admits about 77% of applicants.
Charleston Southern University landed the #24 spot for communications value this year. Charleston Southern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charleston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,520. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Charleston Southern University generally make around $33,518. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Anderson University Sc landed the #25 spot for communications value this year. Located in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Sc is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,970. Communications graduates carry a median of $28,034 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Anderson University Sc generally make around $49,036. Set against $28,034 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Anderson University Sc admits about 55% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 40 Best Value Communications Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communications value ranking:
Narrow Communications Schools by State
More Communications Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 40 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 40 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.
