2027 Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia

[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.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value communications schools.
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2027 Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communications, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Communications Schools
University Of Mary Washington earned the #1 spot for value among communications schools in Virginia. University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Fredericksburg. Students from in state pay about $14,905 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,083. Students borrow a median of $22,825 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from University Of Mary Washington generally make around $43,243. That is a strong return on a $22,825 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Roanoke College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value communications schools. Located in the suburb of Salem, Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,068. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $26,975. Early-career communications graduates make about $36,220. That is a strong return on a $26,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Randolph Macon College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value communications schools. Randolph Macon College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ashland. In-state tuition and fees average $49,466. Communications graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career communications graduates make about $40,328. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Students looking for strong value in communications will find it at Marymount University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,120 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $26,880. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Marymount University generally make around $58,028. That is a strong return on a $26,880 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Liberty University earned it the #5 place for communications. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $23,250. Communications graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $39,116 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.