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2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

56 Ranked Colleges
5,234 Degrees Awarded
$10,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 the Southwest region, there were 6,313 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,423 and $24,273 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 5,234 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,896 and $23,899 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 56 colleges that offer a degree in communication and media studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great communication and media studies programs and cost less that 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Communication & Media Studies Schools

The communications school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 26 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Edinburg, Texas, and it awarded 135 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k list, UT Rio Grande Valley has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $3,473 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.

Full The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Communication & Media Studies Report

#2

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Arizona landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 280 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

University of Arizona did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $11,466 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Arizona.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Arizona

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M University - College Station. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in College Station, Texas, this large public school awarded 346 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M College Station is $13,270 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Texas A&M University - College Station

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Arizona State University - Tempe. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. ASU - Tempe is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 432 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

ASU - Tempe also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Arizona State University - Tempe is $8,921 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Arizona State University - Tempe Communication & Media Studies Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at San Antonio. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a large school located in San Antonio, Texas that handed out 289 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UTSA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UTSA is $11,109 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at The University of Texas at San Antonio

Texas A&M International University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Laredo, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 36 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $2,298 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Texas A&M International University.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Texas A&M International University

#1 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Austin came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 272 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Austin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UT Austin is $13,575 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, 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.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UT Austin

Southeastern Oklahoma State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Durant, Oklahoma, this medium-sized public school handed out 12 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,704 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

Full Southeastern Oklahoma State University Communication & Media Studies Report

#9

Trinity University

San Antonio, Texas

With a ranking of #9, Trinity University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Trinity University is located in San Antonio, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 40 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Trinity U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $12,991 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Trinity University.

The low student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Trinity U

#10

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Texas Tech is a public institution located in Lubbock, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 77 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Tech is $13,326 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Texas Tech University Communication & Media Studies Report

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is a public institution located in Odessa, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 46 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Permian Basin also took the #21 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $10,221 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

Full The University of Texas of the Permian Basin Communication & Media Studies Report

#12

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas

MSU Texas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. MSU Texas is located in Wichita Falls, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend MSU Texas is $8,554 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full MSU Texas Communication & Media Studies Report

#13

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. UH is a large school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 45 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UH did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $9,925 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Houston.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Houston

#13

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona

Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, this large public school awarded 469 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ASU - Skysong, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Arizona State University - Skysong is $12,020 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Arizona State University - Skysong

#14

East Central University

Ada, Oklahoma

East Central University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. ECU is located in Ada, Oklahoma and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for ECU is $8,259 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at ECU

With a ranking of #15, The University of Texas at Tyler did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. The University of Texas at Tyler is a public institution located in Tyler, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Tyler is $7,058 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UT Tyler Communication & Media Studies Report

#16

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

With a ranking of #16, Texas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Texas State University is a large public school situated in San Marcos, Texas. It awarded 170 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas State also took the #19 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas State is $12,292 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Texas State University Communication & Media Studies Report

#17

Angelo State University

San Angelo, Texas
#23 in overall quality

Angelo State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Located in San Angelo, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 26 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

Angelo State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Angelo State University is $11,516 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Angelo State Communication & Media Studies Report

University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Phoenix - Arizona is a large private for-profit school situated in Tempe, Arizona. It awarded 256 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UOPX - Arizona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $13,378 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UOPX - Arizona.

Full University of Phoenix - Arizona Communication & Media Studies Report

#12 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #19. UT Arlington is located in Arlington, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 247 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k list, UT Arlington has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $12,974 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The University of Texas at Arlington.

Full The University of Texas at Arlington Communication & Media Studies Report

#20

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

Sam Houston State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Huntsville, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 177 students in 2019-2020.

SHSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend SHSU is $11,634 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Sam Houston State University Communication & Media Studies Report

With a ranking of #21, Stephen F Austin State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Stephen F Austin State University is a public institution located in Nacogdoches, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 69 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,816 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SFASU.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at SFASU

The University of Texas at El Paso ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UTEP is a large public school situated in El Paso, Texas. It awarded 13 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UTEP is $7,427 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full The University of Texas at El Paso Communication & Media Studies Report

#23

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

With a ranking of #23, Northern Arizona University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. NAU is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 71 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend NAU is $9,799 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Northern Arizona University

#24

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas

Lamar University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Lamar University is a fairly large public school situated in Beaumont, Texas. It awarded 64 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Lamar University is $10,631 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Lamar University

University of Houston - Victoria ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Victoria, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UH Victoria is $7,404 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UH Victoria

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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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