[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for other communication & media studies students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the other communication & media studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in other communication & media studies, no school beat Western Connecticut State University this year. Set in the city of Danbury, Western Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,401, compared with $16,901 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other communication & media studies graduates is $25,069. Early-career other communication & media studies graduates make about $27,909. Set against $25,069 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Students looking for strong value in other communication & media studies will find it at Assumption College, which ranked #2. Assumption College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,356. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,995 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from Assumption College generally make around $50,914. That is a strong return on a $26,995 median debt. Assumption College admits about 83% of applicants.
Curry College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other communication & media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Curry College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Milton. Students from in state pay about $47,570 in tuition and fees. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career other communication & media studies graduates make about $27,516. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northeastern University earned it the #4 place for other communication & media studies. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $66,162 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other communication & media studies graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $52,891. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.
Mitchell College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other communication & media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Mitchell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New London. In-state tuition and fees average $40,490. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from Mitchell College generally make around $28,355. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Salve Regina University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value other communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Newport, Salve Regina University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,100. Typical student debt for other communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career other communication & media studies graduates make about $33,230. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Roger Williams University came in at #7 for value in other communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Bristol, Roger Williams University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,197 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from Roger Williams University generally make around $33,596. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Fairfield University earned the #8 position for value in other communication & media studies this year. Fairfield University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. Students from in state pay about $58,400 in tuition and fees. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career other communication & media studies graduates make about $46,677. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 33%.
Emerson College came in at #9 for value in other communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Boston, Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $57,056 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,953 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from Emerson College generally make around $44,108. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 51% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 16 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.
