[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 19 schools to find the best return on investment for other communication & media studies students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other communication & media studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Raritan Valley Community College the best value for a degree in other communication & media studies in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,584. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $9,668 in student loans. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates of Raritan Valley Community College earn a median of $47,248 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes County College Of Morris one of the best values for other communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,210, with out-of-state students paying around $14,310. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates of County College Of Morris earn a median of $15,905 early in their careers. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Montclair State University one of the best values for other communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,912, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,713 in student loans. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates of Montclair State University earn a median of $42,803 early in their careers. Set against $24,713 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ramapo College Of New Jersey earned it the #4 place for other communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Mahwah, Ramapo College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,777, with out-of-state students paying around $27,708. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from Ramapo College Of New Jersey generally make around $31,966. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Ramapo College Of New Jersey admits about 71% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in other communication & media studies will find it at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,380, with out-of-state students paying around $16,297. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus generally make around $29,858. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
New Jersey City University placed #6 among the best values for other communication & media studies. New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Jersey City. In-state tuition and fees average $14,460. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $16,914 in student loans. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates of New Jersey City University earn a median of $13,796 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,914 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #7 position for value in other communication & media studies this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $93,452 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Rowan University earned the #8 position for value in other communication & media studies this year. Rowan University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glassboro. In-state tuition and fees average $16,574, with out-of-state students paying around $26,932. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Early-career other communication & media studies graduates make about $34,549. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Drew University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value other communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Madison, Drew University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $47,100 in tuition and fees. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,449 in student loans. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates of Drew University earn a median of $34,305 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Molloy College landed the #10 spot for other communication & media studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Rockville Centre, Molloy College is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,790. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates of Molloy College earn a median of $31,517 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College earned the #11 position for value in other communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Erie, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,972 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,958. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College generally make around $34,181. That is a strong return on a $25,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Lancaster Bible College came in at #12 for value in other communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Lancaster, Lancaster Bible College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $29,990 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,507 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates of Lancaster Bible College earn a median of $31,046 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,507 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pennsylvania placed #13 among the best values for other communication & media studies. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other communication & media studies graduates is $15,637. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $53,022. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University earned the #14 position for value in other communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Typical student debt for other communication & media studies graduates is $24,880. Early-career other communication & media studies graduates make about $34,496. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Neumann University earned the #15 position for value in other communication & media studies this year. Neumann University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,100. Typical student debt for other communication & media studies graduates is $27,375. Early-career other communication & media studies graduates make about $32,386. Set against $27,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Neumann University admits about 81% of applicants.
Nazareth College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value other communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Nazareth College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,210. Typical student debt for other communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from Nazareth College generally make around $28,341. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Chatham University came in at #17 for value in other communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Chatham University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,001. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Early-career other communication & media studies graduates make about $61,339. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Pace University New York earned the #18 position for value in other communication & media studies this year. Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $53,510. Typical student debt for other communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $35,992 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Howard University landed the #19 spot for other communication & media studies value this year. Howard University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students from in state pay about $35,810 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,498 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates of Howard University earn a median of $58,495 early in their careers. Set against $25,498 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Howard University admits about 41% 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
