Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Communication & Media Studies

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa

14 Ranked Colleges
532 Degrees Awarded
$17,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa 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 Iowa, there were 532 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,980 and $27,392 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” 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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 14 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Iowa State is a large school located in Ames, Iowa that handed out 78 ’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $10,843 for iowa communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Iowa State University.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low 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%.

Full Iowa State Communication & Media Studies Report

#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 in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. UNI is a public institution located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 66 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNI, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $12,495 for iowa communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.

Full UNI Communication & Media Studies Report

#3

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school handed out 211 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2019-2020.

Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $15,073 for Iowa Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Iowa

#4

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Coe College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Coe, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $15,918 for Iowa Communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Coe College.

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 more about Communication & Media Studies at Coe College

#5

Wartburg College

Waverly, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wartburg College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k. This small school is located in Waverly, Iowa, and it awarded 13 ’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wartburg, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wartburg College is $19,037 for iowa communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Wartburg College

#6

Central College

Pella, Iowa

Central College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Central College is located in Pella, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Central, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $19,207 for Iowa Communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Central.

The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Central College

#13 in overall quality

Maharishi International University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Maharishi International University is a small school located in Fairfield, Iowa that handed out 3 ’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

MIU also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #13.

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 MIU

#8

Loras College

Dubuque, Iowa

Loras College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Loras is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Loras not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Loras is $17,094 for Iowa Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Loras

#9

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa

Luther College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Luther is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decorah, Iowa. It awarded 20 ’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Luther, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Luther College is $17,630 for iowa communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Full Luther Communication & Media Studies Report

#10

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa

Drake University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Des Moines, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Drake, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Drake is $24,060 for iowa communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Drake University Communication & Media Studies Report

Graceland University - Lamoni came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Graceland University - Lamoni is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lamoni, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Graceland Lamoni also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Graceland Lamoni is $17,337 for Iowa Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Graceland Lamoni

#12

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa

With a ranking of #12, Saint Ambrose University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Saint Ambrose University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Davenport, Iowa. It awarded 5 ’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Ambrose University also took the #9 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St. Ambrose University is $24,516 for iowa communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at St. Ambrose University

#13

Waldorf University

Forest City, Iowa

Waldorf University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Waldorf is a private for-profit institution located in Forest City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Waldorf also took the #14 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Waldorf is $16,991 for iowa communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Waldorf University

#14

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, Iowa

University of Dubuque did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. University of Dubuque is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Dubuque is $21,715 for iowa communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

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