2027 Best Value Communications Schools in North Carolina

[Communications](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communications/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value communications schools.
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2027 Best Value Communications Schools in North Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the communications degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Communications Schools
Appalachian State University earned the #1 spot for value among communications schools in North Carolina. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,579, with out-of-state students paying around $25,212. 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. Appalachian State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Davidson College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value communications schools. Located in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,430 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $19,906. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Davidson College generally make around $41,505. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Davidson College admits about 13% of applicants.
Wake Forest University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value communications schools. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,642 in tuition and fees. Communications graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Communications graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $42,055 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 22%.
A rank of #4 makes Queens University Of Charlotte one of the best values for communications. Located in the city of Charlotte, Queens University Of Charlotte is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,846. Communications graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Queens University Of Charlotte generally make around $42,489. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Queens University Of Charlotte admits about 62% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at High Point University earned it the #5 place for communications. Set in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,312. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $23,785. Communications graduates of High Point University earn a median of $113,352 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,785 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Elon University earned the #6 position for value in communications this year. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,958. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $23,250. Communications graduates of Elon University earn a median of $50,463 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Elon University admits about 66% of applicants.
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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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.