[Other Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/other-communication-media-studies/) 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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for other communication & media studies students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other communication & media studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor tops our 2027 list of the best value other communication & media studies schools in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $20,376 in student loans. Early-career other communication & media studies graduates make about $50,556. Set against $20,376 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in other communication & media studies will find it at University Of Southern Indiana, which ranked #2. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. Students from in state pay about $10,066 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,907. Typical student debt for other communication & media studies graduates is $17,860. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Southern Indiana generally make around $29,059. That is a strong return on a $17,860 median debt. University Of Southern Indiana admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other communication & media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Kenosha. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,270, compared with $17,429 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Early-career other communication & media studies graduates make about $40,365. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Akron Main Campus earned it the #4 place for other communication & media studies. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,135 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,347 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Early-career other communication & media studies graduates make about $49,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in other communication & media studies will find it at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, which ranked #5. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,543 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $32,465. That is a strong return on a $26,543 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern Illinois University placed #6 among the best values for other communication & media studies. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,383, with out-of-state students paying around $22,726. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $15,630 in student loans. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $32,538 early in their careers. Set against $15,630 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #7 spot for other communication & media studies value this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $37,286. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Toledo ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value other communication & media studies schools. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. Students from in state pay about $12,157 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Early-career other communication & media studies graduates make about $30,591. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Evansville earned the #9 position for value in other communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Evansville, University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,172 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Evansville generally make around $59,618. That is a strong return on a $25,234 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Beloit College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value other communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Beloit, Beloit College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,886. Students borrow a median of $25,998 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from Beloit College generally make around $33,499. That is a strong return on a $25,998 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #11 among the best values for other communication & media studies. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,063 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $36,666. Set against $24,063 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University placed #12 among the best values for other communication & media studies. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Students borrow a median of $18,112 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Early-career other communication & media studies graduates make about $69,611. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University came in at #13 for value in other communication & media studies this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other communication & media studies graduates is $22,916. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $55,390. That is a strong return on a $22,916 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value other communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $31,495. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
