[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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.
For return on investment in communication & media studies, no school beat University Of Illinois At Chicago this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. 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. Set against $20,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Springfield is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,557, compared with $20,139 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,322 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $32,050. Set against $24,322 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Xavier University came in at #3 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. Students from in state pay about $38,945 in tuition and fees. 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. That is a strong return on a $26,311 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
National Louis University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,245. Students borrow a median of $29,242 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $53,733. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Eastern Illinois University, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $40,683. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #6 for value in communication & media studies this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $37,808. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Governors State University placed #7 among the best values for communication & media studies. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,004. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,340. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $27,071. That is a strong return on a $20,340 median debt. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Northern Illinois University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $38,490. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Western Illinois University placed #9 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $34,142. Set against $30,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern Illinois University placed #10 among the best values for communication & media studies. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,726. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $15,630. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $32,538 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,630 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,543 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $32,465. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #12 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,092. Students borrow a median of $21,759 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $36,569 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,759 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University came in at #13 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Students borrow a median of $20,125 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $41,670 early in their careers. Set against $20,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Aurora University placed #14 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $29,170. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $23,262. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $30,728. That is a strong return on a $23,262 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Olivet Nazarene University earned the #15 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,900 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $23,259. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Olivet Nazarene University admits about 56% of applicants.
Benedictine University came in at #16 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,648. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Benedictine University earn a median of $30,334 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Augustana College Illinois came in at #17 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,598 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,375 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $40,806 early in their careers. Set against $26,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Mckendree University placed #18 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Lebanon, Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,740 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,362 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Mckendree University earn a median of $51,068 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,362 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Chicago landed the #19 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,088. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,557. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $29,160. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Wheaton College Illinois earned the #20 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,546. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $39,321. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Lake Forest College earned the #21 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $56,402. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Lake Forest College earn a median of $42,835 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University placed #22 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $18,112 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $69,611 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,112 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Devry University Illinois placed #23 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Devry University Illinois is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $17,008 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $56,858 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Devry University Illinois earn a median of $47,622 early in their careers. Set against $56,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University landed the #24 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,916 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $40,421. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #25 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $31,495. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.
