611
Ranked Colleges
66,787
Degrees Awarded
$5,000
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Communication & Media Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 10th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 66,787 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, communication and media studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,115 and had an average of $25,414 in loans still to pay off.
For this year’s “Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 611 colleges that offer a degree in communication and media studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality communication and media studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the communication and media studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 207 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” ranking. It costs about $245 for communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwestern.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Northwestern University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Stanford, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 55 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.
Stanford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list. It costs about $1,233 for Communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Stanford University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Stanford University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school awarded 277 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, U-M has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” ranking. It costs about $2,670 for communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at U-M
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. UPenn is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 96 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UPenn not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list. It costs about $580 for Communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UPenn.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UPenn
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Johns Hopkins University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. Johns Hopkins is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Baltimore, Maryland. It awarded 151 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
Johns Hopkins not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Johns Hopkins is $2,084 for communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Johns Hopkins Communication & Media Studies Report
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 668 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.
UNC Chapel Hill also took the #8 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNC Chapel Hill is $3,753 for Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 334 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $3,981 for Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Communication & Media Studies Report
University of Florida ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Florida is a large public school situated in Gainesville, Florida. It awarded 189 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, UF also did well on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UF is $65 for communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Florida Communication & Media Studies Report
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 327 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $4,858 for Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UIUC
Wake Forest University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 156 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Wake Forest University also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Wake Forest University is $10,401 for Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Wake Forest University
Cornell University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 99 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
Cornell also took the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” ranking. It costs about $5,244 for Communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cornell.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Cornell University
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 458 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list, coming in at #23. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $5,752 for communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Indiana University - Bloomington
Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school awarded 391 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.
Purdue also took the #19 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $5,995 for Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Purdue
Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbia University in the City of New York is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 92 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Columbia University in the City of New York is $9,873 for communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York
Michigan State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Michigan State is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 543 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
Michigan State also took the #17 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” ranking. It costs about $6,927 for communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan State University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Michigan State University Communication & Media Studies Report
University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. USF Tampa is a large school located in Tampa, Florida that handed out 403 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, USF Tampa is in the top on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $4,176 for communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend USF Tampa.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of South Florida - Main Campus
University of California - Berkeley came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 268 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Berkeley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Berkeley is $8,450 for communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UC Berkeley Communication & Media Studies Report
Boston College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 168 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Boston College is also in the top of our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” ranking. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Boston College is $10,212 for Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Boston College
University of Maryland - College Park came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UMCP is located in College Park, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 289 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
UMCP also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend University of Maryland - College Park is $6,067 for communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Maryland - College Park
University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 411 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
UW Seattle also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for UW Seattle is $5,194 for communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Washington - Seattle Campus
Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Arizona State University - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 483 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
ASU - Tempe also claimed a top spot on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $8,969 for Communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Arizona State University - Tempe.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Arizona State University - Tempe
With a ranking of #22, University of Georgia did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Athens, Georgia, this large public school handed out 180 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, UGA also did well on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Georgia is $8,303 for communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UGA
Hunter College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Hunter is located in New York, New York and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 164 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $396 for Communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Hunter.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Hunter College
With a ranking of #24, Central New Mexico Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. CNM is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 87 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for CNM is $1,994 for communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at CNM
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Ohio State is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 580 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State also claimed a top spot on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $7,068 for communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Ohio State University - Main Campus
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