[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong communication & media studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 106 schools to find the best return on investment for communication & media studies students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the communication & media studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Chicago, our #1 best value for communication & media studies in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,750. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $38,912 early in their careers. Set against $20,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Indiana University Kokomo came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Kokomo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,619. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Indiana University Kokomo earn a median of $31,085 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Kokomo admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Students borrow a median of $20,376 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $50,556. Set against $20,376 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,125 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $37,795 early in their careers. Set against $24,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Sinclair Community College one of the best values for communication & media studies. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $11,944 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $32,284. Set against $11,944 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #6 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $39,775. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #7 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,557 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,139. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,322. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $32,050. That is a strong return on a $24,322 median debt. University Of Illinois At Springfield admits about 86% of applicants.
Ohio University Lancaster Campus ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the rural area of Lancaster, Ohio University Lancaster Campus is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,362, with out-of-state students paying around $9,444. Students borrow a median of $24,063 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Ohio University Lancaster Campus earn a median of $36,666 early in their careers. Set against $24,063 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana University East placed #9 among the best values for communication & media studies. Indiana University East is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,462. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Indiana University East generally make around $37,463. That is a strong return on a $24,462 median debt. Indiana University East admits about 67% of applicants.
National Louis University placed #10 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Students borrow a median of $29,242 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $53,733. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $37,808. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Northwest placed #12 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,357 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,504 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest generally make around $25,541. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Xavier University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,945. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,311 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $32,169. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.
Indiana University Southeast landed the #14 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the suburb of New Albany, Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,500. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $26,777. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Indiana University Southeast admits about 84% of applicants.
Indiana University Northwest ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Gary, Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,434. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Indiana University Northwest earn a median of $48,925 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Flint earned the #16 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,236, compared with $27,790 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $30,250 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $35,982. Set against $30,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Indiana State University came in at #17 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,258 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,322. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $34,213. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Saginaw Valley State University placed #18 among the best values for communication & media studies. Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Center. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,930, with out-of-state students paying around $30,450. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $28,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Saginaw Valley State University generally make around $36,348. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saginaw Valley State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #19 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $59,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Miami University Hamilton landed the #20 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Miami University Hamilton is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Hamilton. In-state tuition and fees average $7,012, while out-of-state students pay about $18,811. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $34,959. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Michigan Dearborn landed the #21 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,640, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,200. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $31,735 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
University Of Wisconsin Parkside came in at #22 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the rural area of Kenosha, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,270, with out-of-state students paying around $17,429. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Parkside earn a median of $37,107 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Parkside admits about 75% of applicants.
Eastern Illinois University placed #23 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $40,683. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
University Of Southern Indiana earned the #24 position for value in communication & media studies this year. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,066, with out-of-state students paying around $22,907. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $17,860. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $29,059. That is a strong return on a $17,860 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Indiana University South Bend came in at #25 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Indiana University South Bend earn a median of $38,094 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
These schools also delivered strong value for communication & media studies this year:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 106 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 106 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
