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2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia

18 Ranked Colleges
1,587 Degrees Awarded
$22,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor's in Virginia

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 Virginia” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 Virginia, there were 1,814 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,678 and $28,507 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,587 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree in communication and media studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality communication and media studies programs that also have a lower cost than 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 Virginia” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools 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 Virginia

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in Virginia

#1

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia Tech. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia. Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 178 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our virginia bachelor’s degree communications students list, Virginia Tech has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $21,198 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, 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 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Virginia Tech

#2

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, Virginia

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, James Madison University landed the #2 spot on the list. JMU is a large public school situated in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It awarded 451 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

JMU also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $22,169 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students per year to attend James Madison 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 2.3% 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 James Madison University Communication & Media Studies Report

#3

Christopher Newport University

Newport News, Virginia

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Christopher Newport University landed the #3 spot on the list. Christopher Newport University is a small public school situated in Newport News, Virginia. It awarded 103 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

CNU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Christopher Newport University is $25,596 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Communications students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full Christopher Newport University Communication & Media Studies Report

#4

Radford University

Radford, Virginia

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Radford University landed the #4 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Radford, Virginia, and it awarded 78 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Radford also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Radford University is $16,447 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Radford

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia Commonwealth University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia. Richmond, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 229 students in 2019-2020.

VCU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Virginia Commonwealth University is $22,021 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at VCU

#6

Longwood University

Farmville, Virginia

Longwood University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking. Longwood University is located in Farmville, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 49 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Longwood not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Longwood is $19,462 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Communications students.

Full Longwood Communication & Media Studies Report

#7

Virginia State University

Petersburg, Virginia

Virginia State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Virginia State is a small school located in Petersburg, Virginia that handed out 59 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Virginia State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $16,970 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Communications students per year to attend Virginia State University.

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

#8

Liberty University

Lynchburg, Virginia

With a ranking of #8, Liberty University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 143 students in 2019-2020.

Liberty University also took the #15 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $28,903 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Communications students per year to attend Liberty University.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Liberty University

#9

Regent University

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Regent University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking. Regent University is a fairly large school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia that handed out 86 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Regent also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $15,267 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students per year to attend Regent.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Regent

#10

Virginia Union University

Richmond, Virginia

Virginia Union University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Richmond, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

VUU also took the #18 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend VUU is $21,813 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Virginia Union University

#11

Shenandoah University

Winchester, Virginia

With a ranking of #11, Shenandoah University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Winchester, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Shenandoah, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Shenandoah University is $27,124 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Communications students.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.

Full Shenandoah Communication & Media Studies Report

#12

Marymount University

Arlington, Virginia

With a ranking of #12, Marymount University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Arlington, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

Marymount not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Marymount University is $26,078 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Marymount

#13

Virginia Wesleyan University

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Wesleyan University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Virginia Wesleyan University is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our virginia bachelor’s degree communications students list, VWU has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Wesleyan University is $23,425 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at VWU

#14

Emory and Henry College

Emory, Virginia

Emory and Henry College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking. Emory & Henry College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Emory, Virginia. It awarded 15 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our virginia bachelor’s degree communications students list, Emory & Henry College has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $18,593 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students per year to attend Emory & Henry College.

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.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Emory and Henry College

#15

Bridgewater College

Bridgewater, Virginia

Bridgewater College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking. This small school is located in Bridgewater, Virginia, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our virginia bachelor’s degree communications students list, Bridgewater has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $17,929 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Communications students per year to attend Bridgewater.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Bridgewater

#16

Randolph - Macon College

Ashland, Virginia

Randolph - Macon College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking. Randolph - Macon College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Ashland, Virginia. It awarded 41 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our virginia bachelor’s degree communications students list, Randolph - Macon has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Randolph - Macon is $26,370 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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 Randolph - Macon Communication & Media Studies Report

#17

University of Lynchburg

Lynchburg, Virginia

University of Lynchburg came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

Lynchburg also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $23,207 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Communications students per year to attend University of Lynchburg.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Lynchburg

#18

Roanoke College

Salem, Virginia

Roanoke College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Roanoke College is located in Salem, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Roanoke also took the #6 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $25,135 for virginia bachelor’s degree communications students per year to attend Roanoke.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 Roanoke

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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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