2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in the Southwest Region (With Aid)
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that 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.
This year’s “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 56 colleges that offered 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.
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.
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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 for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid.
Top 26 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in the Southwest Region (With Aid)
Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #1 spot on the list. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is located in Edinburg, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 135 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid 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 yearly cost to attend UT Rio Grande Valley is $4,514 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students with aid.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin landed the #2 spot on the list. UT Permian Basin is a medium-sized school located in Odessa, Texas that handed out 46 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
UT Permian Basin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $10,092 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students with aid per year to attend UT Permian Basin.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin
Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Austin landed the #3 spot on the list. The University of Texas at Austin is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 272 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid list, UT Austin has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Austin is $18,023 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students with aid.
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%.
Full The University of Texas at Austin Communication & Media Studies Report
Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M International University landed the #4 spot on the list. Texas A&M International University is a public institution located in Laredo, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M International University is $3,074 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Texas A&M International University
Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Southeastern Oklahoma State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Durant, Oklahoma is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University is $8,237 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students with aid.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Southeastern Oklahoma State University
With a ranking of #6, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 432 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
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 $11,706 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
The University of Texas at San Antonio landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UTSA is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 289 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid list, UTSA has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UTSA is $13,853 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students with aid.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at The University of Texas at San Antonio
With a ranking of #8, University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 256 students 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. It costs about $12,944 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid per year to attend UOPX - Arizona.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UOPX - Arizona
With a ranking of #9, University of Arizona did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Arizona is a large public school situated in Tucson, Arizona. It awarded 280 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
University of Arizona also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend University of Arizona is $15,016 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Full University of Arizona Communication & Media Studies Report
MSU Texas ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Wichita Falls, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $10,045 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid per year to attend MSU Texas.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at MSU Texas
East Central University 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 Getting Aid ranking. East Central University is a small public school situated in Ada, Oklahoma. It awarded 22 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for East Central University is $10,334 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students with aid.
With a ranking of #12, Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Scottsdale, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 469 students in 2019-2020.
ASU - Skysong also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend ASU - Skysong is $13,971 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at ASU - Skysong
With a ranking of #12, Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Texas A&M College Station is a public institution located in College Station, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 346 bachelors’s 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 $19,057 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students with aid per year to attend Texas A&M University - College Station.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Texas A&M University - College Station Communication & Media Studies Report
With a ranking of #13, The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Arlington, Texas, and it awarded 247 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Arlington, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $14,246 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid per year to attend UT Arlington.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at The University of Texas at Arlington
Angelo State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Angelo State 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 also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #23. It costs about $13,819 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students with aid per year to attend Angelo State University.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Angelo State University
Texas State University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas State University is $15,230 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid.
Full Texas State University Communication & Media Studies Report
University of Houston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. University of Houston 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. The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston is $12,838 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Texas Tech University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Lubbock, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 77 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid 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 $17,571 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid per year to attend Texas Tech.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Texas Tech
The University of Texas at El Paso ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. The University of Texas at El Paso is a public institution located in El Paso, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at El Paso is $8,920 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students with aid.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at The University of Texas at El Paso
Sam Houston State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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.
In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid list, SHSU has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Sam Houston State University is $14,617 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid.
University of Houston - Downtown did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. University of Houston - Downtown is a fairly large school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 82 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $6,848 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid per year to attend University of Houston - Downtown.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Houston - Downtown
Texas A&M University - San Antonio ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Texas A&M University - San Antonio is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 51 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M San Antonio is $11,511 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid.
Full Texas A&M University - San Antonio Communication & Media Studies Report
With a ranking of #22, 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 Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Nacogdoches, Texas, and it awarded 69 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $13,723 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students with aid per year to attend Stephen F Austin State University.
Full Stephen F Austin State University Communication & Media Studies Report
Lamar University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Lamar University is located in Beaumont, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 64 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $12,311 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid per year to attend Lamar University.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Lamar University
The University of Texas at Tyler did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. This medium-sized school is located in Tyler, Texas, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Tyler is $10,974 for southwest region bachelor’s degree communications students with aid.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UT Tyler
University of Houston - Clear Lake came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UH Clear Lake is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 46 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UH Clear Lake also took the #22 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $10,612 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students with aid per year to attend UH Clear Lake.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Houston - Clear Lake
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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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