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2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k

56 Ranked Colleges
5,234 Degrees Awarded
$31,890 Avg Salary
Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 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 $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 56 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Communication & Media Studies Schools

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 the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.

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. 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 Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 26 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region

Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Edinburg, Texas, and it awarded 135 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Rio Grande Valley also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #24. The yearly cost to attend UT Rio Grande Valley is $6,405 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Austin landed the #2 spot on the list. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 272 students in 2019-2020.

UT Austin also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Austin is $15,757 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, 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 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UT Austin

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M International University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Texas A&M International University is located in Laredo, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $3,809 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Texas A&M International University.

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

#4

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Arizona. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Arizona is a large school located in Tucson, Arizona that handed out 280 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Arizona is $15,399 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Arizona

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 289 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UTSA also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $13,827 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Full UTSA Communication & Media Studies Report

Texas A&M University - College Station came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Texas A&M University - College Station is a large school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 346 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station also took the #2 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $18,810 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Texas A&M University - College Station.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Odessa, Texas, and it awarded 46 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Permian Basin also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend UT Permian Basin is $10,417 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UT Permian Basin

Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. Arizona State University - Tempe is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 432 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe also took the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Arizona State University - Tempe is $14,033 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

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

#9

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas

With a ranking of #9, MSU Texas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. MSU Texas is a medium-sized school located in Wichita Falls, Texas that handed out 27 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for MSU Texas is $10,068 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full MSU Texas Communication & Media Studies Report

Southeastern Oklahoma State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Durant, Oklahoma. It awarded 12 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,796 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Southeastern Oklahoma State University

#11

Trinity University

San Antonio, Texas

With a ranking of #11, Trinity University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 40 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k list, Trinity U has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Trinity University is $18,012 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full Trinity U Communication & Media Studies Report

#12

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Houston is a large school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 45 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UH also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend University of Houston is $12,505 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UH

#13

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. San Marcos, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 170 students 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 University is $14,250 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Texas State

#12 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Arlington, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 247 students in 2019-2020.

UT Arlington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Arlington is $14,622 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

University of Phoenix - Arizona came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UOPX - Arizona is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 256 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UOPX - Arizona also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend UOPX - Arizona is $14,939 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UOPX - Arizona

#16

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona

Arizona State University - Skysong came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, and it awarded 469 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Skysong not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for ASU - Skysong is $15,891 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

#16

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school awarded 77 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k list, Texas Tech has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $17,421 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Texas Tech.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Texas Tech Communication & Media Studies Report

#17

East Central University

Ada, Oklahoma

East Central University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Ada, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend ECU is $13,316 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full ECU Communication & Media Studies Report

#18

Angelo State University

San Angelo, Texas
#23 in overall quality

Angelo State University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Angelo State University is a public institution located in San Angelo, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Angelo State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Angelo State is $14,876 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Angelo State

#19

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 $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. SHSU is located in Huntsville, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 177 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

SHSU also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #20. The estimated yearly cost for SHSU is $14,832 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Sam Houston State University

Stephen F Austin State University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Nacogdoches, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 69 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend SFASU is $13,644 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

The University of Texas at El Paso came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. The University of Texas at El Paso is a large school located in El Paso, Texas that handed out 13 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UTEP is $10,786 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

The University of Texas at Tyler landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UT Tyler is located in Tyler, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $10,037 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UT Tyler.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UT Tyler

University of Houston - Clear Lake did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Houston, Texas, this medium-sized public school awarded 46 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

UH Clear Lake also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #22. The yearly cost to attend University of Houston - Clear Lake is $9,886 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Houston - Clear Lake

#24

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

Northern Arizona University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and it awarded 71 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend NAU is $12,675 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at NAU

Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Portales, New Mexico, this medium-sized public school handed out 17 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus is $11,117 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full ENMU - Main Campus Communication & Media Studies Report

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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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