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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa

13 Ranked Colleges
486 Degrees Awarded
$15,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor's in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

With 68,079 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, communication and media studies is the 9th most popular major in the United States. 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 Iowa, there were 532 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,980 and $27,392 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 486 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,922 and $25,876 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 13 colleges that offered 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the communication and media studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

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. 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 Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 13 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k. Iowa State University is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 78 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $10,054 for iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, 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 89%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Iowa State

#2

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 56 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNI, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Iowa is $10,757 for iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Northern Iowa Communication & Media Studies Report

#3

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k. Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 203 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Iowa also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa is $12,975 for iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 Iowa

#4

Central College

Pella, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k. Pella, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Central, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $19,172 for iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Central College.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Central College

#5

Loras College

Dubuque, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Loras College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Loras College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Dubuque, Iowa. It awarded 14 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, Loras has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Loras is $16,154 for iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Loras College

#6

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Coe College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Coe is a small school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 9 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, Coe has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Coe is $14,590 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Coe

#7

Wartburg College

Waverly, Iowa

Wartburg College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Wartburg is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waverly, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Wartburg also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Wartburg is $16,334 for iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Wartburg

Maharishi International University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Maharishi International University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fairfield, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

MIU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Maharishi International University is $12,278 for iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Maharishi International University

Graceland University - Lamoni came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Graceland University - Lamoni is located in Lamoni, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Graceland Lamoni not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $15,015 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Graceland Lamoni.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Graceland Lamoni

#10

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa

Luther College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Decorah, Iowa, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, Luther has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Luther College is $16,636 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Luther College

#11

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa

Saint Ambrose University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Ambrose University is a small school located in Davenport, Iowa that handed out 5 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Ambrose University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Saint Ambrose University is $23,977 for iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Saint Ambrose University Communication & Media Studies Report

#12

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, Iowa

University of Dubuque did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Dubuque, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

UD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $19,369 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Dubuque.

Full UD Communication & Media Studies Report

#13

Waldorf University

Forest City, Iowa

Waldorf University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Waldorf University is a private for-profit institution located in Forest City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Waldorf, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $19,719 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Waldorf University.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Waldorf University

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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.

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