Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Communication & Media Studies

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k

18 Ranked Colleges
1,587 Degrees Awarded
$17,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor's in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Communication & Media Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 9th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 68,079 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, communication and media studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,728 and had an average of $24,931 in loans still to pay off.

Across Virginia, there were 1,814 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,678 and $28,507 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,587 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree in communication and media studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent communication and media studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the communication and media studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Communication & Media Studies Schools

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 a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia

#1

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia Tech. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Blacksburg, Virginia, and it awarded 178 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Virginia Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $11,138 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Virginia Tech.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Virginia Tech

#2

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend James Madison University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Harrisonburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 451 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at JMU, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend JMU is $14,196 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at JMU

#3

Radford University

Radford, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Radford University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k. This fairly large school is located in Radford, Virginia, and it awarded 78 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our virginia bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, Radford has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Radford is $12,071 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Radford University

#4

Christopher Newport University

Newport News, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Christopher Newport University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k. Newport News, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 103 students in 2019-2020.

CNU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Christopher Newport University is $16,529 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Christopher Newport University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia Commonwealth University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k. Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution located in Richmond, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 229 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at VCU, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Virginia Commonwealth University is $16,768 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at VCU

#6

Emory and Henry College

Emory, Virginia

With a ranking of #6, Emory and Henry College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Emory, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Emory & Henry College, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Emory and Henry College is $13,366 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Emory & Henry College

#7

Longwood University

Farmville, Virginia

With a ranking of #7, Longwood University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Farmville, Virginia, this small public school awarded 49 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

Longwood also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Longwood is $14,704 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Longwood

#8

Randolph - Macon College

Ashland, Virginia

Randolph - Macon College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Randolph - Macon is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ashland, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our virginia bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, Randolph - Macon has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Randolph - Macon College is $23,012 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Randolph - Macon College Communication & Media Studies Report

#9

Bridgewater College

Bridgewater, Virginia

Bridgewater College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. This small school is located in Bridgewater, Virginia, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Bridgewater also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $14,220 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bridgewater College.

Full Bridgewater Communication & Media Studies Report

#10

Roanoke College

Salem, Virginia

Roanoke College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Roanoke College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Salem, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Roanoke not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Roanoke College is $17,473 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Roanoke College

#11

University of Lynchburg

Lynchburg, Virginia

With a ranking of #11, University of Lynchburg did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lynchburg is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lynchburg, Virginia. It awarded 21 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lynchburg, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lynchburg is $19,128 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Lynchburg Communication & Media Studies Report

#12

Virginia State University

Petersburg, Virginia

Virginia State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Petersburg, Virginia, this small public school awarded 59 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

Virginia State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Virginia State University is $15,586 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Virginia State University

#13

Marymount University

Arlington, Virginia

With a ranking of #13, Marymount University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Marymount is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Arlington, Virginia. It awarded 16 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our virginia bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, Marymount has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Marymount University is $22,212 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 more about Communication & Media Studies at Marymount

#14

Virginia Wesleyan University

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Wesleyan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Virginia Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It awarded 16 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

VWU also took the #13 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $20,816 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Virginia Wesleyan University.

Full VWU Communication & Media Studies Report

#15

Regent University

Virginia Beach, Virginia

With a ranking of #15, Regent University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Regent is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 86 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Regent also took the #17 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $15,584 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Regent University.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Regent University

#16

Shenandoah University

Winchester, Virginia

Shenandoah University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Shenandoah is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winchester, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Shenandoah also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $25,591 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Shenandoah.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Shenandoah

#17

Virginia Union University

Richmond, Virginia

Virginia Union University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Richmond, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

VUU also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for VUU is $20,636 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Virginia Union University

#18

Liberty University

Lynchburg, Virginia

Liberty University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 143 students in 2019-2020.

Liberty University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $27,896 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Liberty University.

Full Liberty University Communication & Media Studies Report

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

Featured Communications / Public Relations Schools

Find Schools Near You