[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong other communication & media studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment 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.
Wayne State College tops our 2027 list of the best value other communication & media studies schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Wayne, Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,171. Typical student debt for other communication & media studies graduates is $25,325. Early-career other communication & media studies graduates make about $35,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Dakota is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of North Dakota is a large public school located in the city of Grand Forks. Students from in state pay about $10,951 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,570. Typical student debt for other communication & media studies graduates is $24,000. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of North Dakota generally make around $34,963. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Students looking for strong value in other communication & media studies will find it at South Dakota State University, which ranked #3. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Typical student debt for other communication & media studies graduates is $25,500. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $39,173 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in other communication & media studies will find it at Augsburg College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,452. Typical student debt for other communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from Augsburg College generally make around $59,409. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Drake University earned it the #5 place for other communication & media studies. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,960. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans. Early-career other communication & media studies graduates make about $56,361. That is a strong return on a $22,273 median debt. Drake University admits about 64% of applicants.
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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 · 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.
