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

28 Ranked Colleges
590 Degrees Awarded
$18,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Communications Schools for a Master'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. 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 Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” 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 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 590 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,078 and $37,227 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 28 colleges that offered 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Master’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 when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 26 Best Value Master’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 Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UT Rio Grande Valley is a large school located in Edinburg, Texas that handed out 10 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Rio Grande Valley also took the #13 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

#2

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Arizona. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Arizona is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona also took the #5 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399.

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

#20 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UTSA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at San Antonio are $25,807, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

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 Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 25 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe also took the #4 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Tempe are $27,048.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at ASU - Tempe

#5

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas Tech University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Lubbock, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 46 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k list, Texas Tech has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech University are $17,530, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Texas Tech

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Arizona State University - Skysong. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Arizona State University - Skysong is a large public school situated in Scottsdale, Arizona. It awarded 119 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Skysong not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at ASU - Skysong are $6,724, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at ASU - Skysong

Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Texas A&M College Station is a public institution located in College Station, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #0. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - College Station are $22,743.

Full Texas A&M University - College Station Communication & Media Studies Report

#7

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Houston did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Houston is a large school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 8 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UH, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Houston are $18,689, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UH

#8

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in San Marcos, Texas, and it awarded 35 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas State also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas State University are $17,040, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Texas State Communication & Media Studies Report

With a ranking of #9, Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. ENMU - Main Campus is located in Portales, New Mexico and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at ENMU - Main Campus are $7,110.

Full ENMU - Main Campus Communication & Media Studies Report

#10

Angelo State University

San Angelo, Texas

With a ranking of #10, Angelo State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Angelo State is located in San Angelo, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Angelo State, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Angelo State are $14,396, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Angelo State University Communication & Media Studies Report

With a ranking of #11, Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Stillwater, Oklahoma that handed out 13 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at OSU are $23,963, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

#23 in overall quality

The University of Texas at El Paso landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UTEP is a large public school situated in El Paso, Texas. It awarded 5 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UTEP not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UTEP are $16,180, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at The University of Texas at El Paso

#13

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

With a ranking of #13, Northeastern State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northeastern State University is a medium-sized school located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma that handed out 8 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern State University are $10,600, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at NSU

#18 in overall quality

Stephen F Austin State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. This fairly large school is located in Nacogdoches, Texas, and it awarded 14 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

SFASU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stephen F Austin State University are $15,695.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Stephen F Austin State University

The University of Texas at Arlington landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Arlington, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k list, UT Arlington has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Arlington are $23,376, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at The University of Texas at Arlington

#16

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas
#16 in overall quality

Sam Houston State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Huntsville, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k list, SHSU has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SHSU are $15,704, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full SHSU Communication & Media Studies Report

#17

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

With a ranking of #17, Northern Arizona University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and it awarded 12 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

NAU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NAU are $19,489, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northern Arizona University Communication & Media Studies Report

#7 in overall quality

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Oklahoma is a large school located in Norman, Oklahoma that handed out 9 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Oklahoma also took the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oklahoma are $23,236, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Oklahoma Communication & Media Studies Report

#19

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, West Texas A&M University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Canyon, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s communications students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k list, West Texas A&M University has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at West Texas A&M University are $8,013.

Full West Texas A&M University Communication & Media Studies Report

#20

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, Arizona
#9 in overall quality

Grand Canyon University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it awarded 120 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Grand Canyon University also took the #9 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Canyon University are $11,436, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Grand Canyon University

#21

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Tarleton State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tarleton State University is a fairly large school located in Stephenville, Texas that handed out 12 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k list, Tarleton has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Tarleton State University are $15,485.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Tarleton State University

#22

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, Texas
#1 in overall quality

Texas Christian University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Texas Christian University is a fairly large school located in Fort Worth, Texas that handed out 7 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k list, TCU has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at TCU are $32,268, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at TCU

#23

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, Texas
#22 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Corpus Christi, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Corpus Christi also took the #22 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M Corpus Christi are $15,683, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Texas A&M Corpus Christi

#24

University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, Texas

University of the Incarnate Word came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UIW is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 13 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIW did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of the Incarnate Word are $19,242, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UIW Communication & Media Studies Report

#14 in overall quality

Abilene Christian University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Abilene Christian is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Abilene, Texas. It awarded 4 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Abilene Christian also took the #14 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Abilene Christian University are $23,238, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Abilene Christian

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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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