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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in the Plains States Region

72 Ranked Colleges
3,293 Degrees Awarded
$15,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” 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 the Plains States region, there were 3,723 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,583 and $25,858 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 3,293 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 72 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Communication & Media Studies Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

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

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in the Plains States Region

#1

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Out of the 72 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Dakota landed the #1 spot on the list. UND is a public institution located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 77 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UND did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,738 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students per year to attend UND.

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%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of North Dakota

#2

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri

Out of the 72 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Truman State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Truman State is a small public school situated in Kirksville, Missouri. It awarded 50 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Truman State also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $12,462 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students per year to attend Truman State University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Truman State

#3

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of South Dakota. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. USD is a medium-sized school located in Vermillion, South Dakota that handed out 66 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of South Dakota is $18,555 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students.

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%.

Full USD Communication & Media Studies Report

Out of the 72 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 82 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $17,067 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students per year to attend UMN Duluth.

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 UMN Duluth

#5

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Winona State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. Winona State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 66 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students list, Winona State has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,656 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students per year to attend Winona State University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Winona State University

Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 121 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students list, Minnesota State Mankato has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,221 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students per year to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Minnesota State University - Mankato

University of Minnesota - Crookston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. UMN Crookston is a small school located in Crookston, Minnesota that handed out 23 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,952 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students per year to attend University of Minnesota - Crookston.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UMN Crookston

#8

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota

With a ranking of #8, South Dakota State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 27 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State University is $19,252 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%.

Full South Dakota State University Communication & Media Studies Report

#9

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. Bemidji, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Bemidji State University is $15,868 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Bemidji State University

#10

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

With a ranking of #10, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Saint Cloud State University is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 115 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Cloud State University is $14,267 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students.

Full Saint Cloud State University Communication & Media Studies Report

#11

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska

Bellevue University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Bellevue, Nebraska, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 12 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Bellevue University is $15,616 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Bellevue University

#12

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #12. This fairly large school is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and it awarded 105 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $12,774 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students.

Full Southeast Missouri State University Communication & Media Studies Report

#13

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 56 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNI is $15,620 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Northern Iowa Communication & Media Studies Report

#14

Central College

Pella, Iowa

With a ranking of #14, Central College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Pella, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 7 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

Central not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Central College is $23,269 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Central College

#15

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

With a ranking of #15, Metropolitan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Metropolitan State University is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 45 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan State University is $15,225 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Metro State

#16

Valley City State University

Valley City, North Dakota

With a ranking of #16, Valley City State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Valley City State University is a public institution located in Valley City, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Valley City State University is $11,981 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Valley City State University

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 169 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $16,725 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students per year to attend Missouri State University - Springfield.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Missouri State

With a ranking of #18, Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. MSU Moorhead is located in Moorhead, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend MSU Moorhead is $16,893 for plains states region 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 more about Communication & Media Studies at Minnesota State University - Moorhead

Iowa State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This large school is located in Ames, Iowa, and it awarded 78 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State is $15,496 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Iowa State

Northwest Missouri State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 63 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,354 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students per year to attend Northwest Missouri State University.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Northwest

#21

Wayne State College

Wayne, Nebraska

Wayne State College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Wayne, Nebraska is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,765 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students per year to attend WSC.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Wayne State College

#21

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Charles, Missouri. It awarded 62 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Lindenwood University is $17,491 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students.

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%.

Full Lindenwood University Communication & Media Studies Report

#23

Chadron State College

Chadron, Nebraska

Chadron State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #23. Chadron State College is a small school located in Chadron, Nebraska that handed out 8 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,268 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students per year to attend Chadron State College.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Chadron State College

#24

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Warrensburg, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 28 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,677 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students per year to attend UCM.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Central Missouri

University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska at Omaha is $14,040 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students.

Full University of Nebraska at Omaha 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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