2027 Best Value Communications Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Communications](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communications/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong communications education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value communications schools.
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2027 Best Value Communications Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communications, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Communications Schools
For return on investment in communications, no school beat Minot State University this year. Minot State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Minot. Students from in state pay about $8,702 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,788 to complete the communications program here. Early-career communications graduates make about $50,645. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Minot State University admits about 65% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Saint Cloud State University one of the best values for communications. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,245. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $40,279. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Cloud State University admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Crookston came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value communications schools. University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Crookston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,288. Students borrow a median of $25,288 to complete the communications program here. Early-career communications graduates make about $42,458. Set against $25,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Crookston admits about 88% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wichita State University earned it the #4 place for communications. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,684, while out-of-state students pay about $19,869. Students borrow a median of $25,159 to complete the communications program here. Communications graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $35,035 early in their careers. Set against $25,159 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Kansas one of the best values for communications. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the communications program here. Communications graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $40,772 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri St Louis landed the #6 spot for communications value this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. Communications graduates carry a median of $21,326 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $32,809. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Rochester Community And Technical College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value communications schools. Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rochester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,389. Communications graduates carry a median of $20,291 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Rochester Community And Technical College generally make around $27,798. Set against $20,291 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest Missouri State University landed the #8 spot for communications value this year. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,611, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Communications graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Northwest Missouri State University generally make around $34,195. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwest Missouri State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Bellevue University came in at #9 for value in communications this year. Set in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,873 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,852 to complete the communications program here. Early-career communications graduates make about $61,548. Set against $27,852 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan State University placed #10 among the best values for communications. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,840. Students borrow a median of $34,933 to complete the communications program here. Early-career communications graduates make about $46,320. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
University Of North Dakota earned the #11 position for value in communications this year. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,951, while out-of-state students pay about $15,570. Communications graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Communications graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $34,963 early in their careers. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #12 spot for communications value this year. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Communications graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Communications graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $39,798 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Hamline University placed #13 among the best values for communications. Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,004. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Hamline University generally make around $42,201. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Drury University landed the #14 spot for communications value this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Drury University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $36,745. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $26,641. Early-career communications graduates make about $37,267. That is a strong return on a $26,641 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Saint Louis University Main Campus came in at #15 for value in communications this year. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Communications graduates carry a median of $24,343 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus generally make around $30,047. Set against $24,343 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Louis University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Crown College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value communications schools. Set in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius, Crown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $31,410 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $29,537. Early-career communications graduates make about $42,695. Set against $29,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 23% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel University Minnesota placed #17 among the best values for communications. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,226 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,937 to complete the communications program here. Communications graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of $40,019 early in their careers. Set against $25,937 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Walden University earned the #18 position for value in communications this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,067. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $43,566. Early-career communications graduates make about $47,157. That is a strong return on a $43,566 median debt.
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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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
