[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 210 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value communication & media studies schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & media studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in communication & media studies, no school beat Indiana University Kokomo this year. Set in the city of Kokomo, Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Students borrow a median of $24,619 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $31,085. That is a strong return on a $24,619 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Illinois At Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $38,912 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Sinclair Community College earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. 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 is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,500. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $39,775. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Springfield is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,557, while out-of-state students pay about $20,139. Students borrow a median of $24,322 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $32,050 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,322 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Blue Ash, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,106, compared with $15,904 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $17,922 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $38,767. Set against $17,922 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Henry Ford Community College came in at #7 for value in communication & media studies this year. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $18,876. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $36,247. Set against $18,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #8 for value in communication & media studies this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $59,776. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #9 for value in communication & media studies this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $20,376 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $50,556. That is a strong return on a $20,376 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of Wisconsin Parkside earned the #10 position 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, while out-of-state students pay about $17,429. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Parkside generally make around $37,107. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Governors State University came in at #11 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,004. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,340. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $27,071. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Governors State University admits about 48% of applicants.
Indiana University East ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the town of Richmond, Indiana University East is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,462 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Indiana University East earn a median of $37,463 early in their careers. Set against $24,462 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Indiana University South Bend landed the #13 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of South Bend. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $38,094. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University South Bend admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #14 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $19,500. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $37,808 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Indiana University Southeast placed #15 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of New Albany, Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $26,777. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Northwest landed the #16 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,357, with out-of-state students paying around $15,504. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Purdue University Northwest earn a median of $25,541 early in their careers. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Western Illinois University landed the #17 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. In-state tuition and fees average $14,572. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $30,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $34,142. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Illinois University admits about 71% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University landed the #18 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $38,490 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Saint Xavier University landed the #19 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $38,945 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,311. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $32,169 early in their careers. Set against $26,311 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earned the #20 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Students from in state pay about $9,532 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,887 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,289. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne generally make around $39,712. Set against $25,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Michigan Dearborn ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,200 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $31,735. That is a strong return on a $27,200 median debt. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,092. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $21,759. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $36,569. That is a strong return on a $21,759 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Northeastern Illinois University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,383, compared with $22,726 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $15,630 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $32,538. That is a strong return on a $15,630 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Indiana University Bloomington placed #24 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $36,700. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Oakland University earned the #25 position for value in communication & media studies this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $24,125 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $37,795. Set against $24,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communication & media studies value ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 210 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 92 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.
