[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communication & media studies students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & media studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Indiana University Kokomo tops our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools in Indiana. Located in the city of Kokomo, Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Students borrow a median of $24,619 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Indiana University Kokomo generally make around $31,085. Set against $24,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $39,775. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. 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. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Northwest is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Purdue University Northwest is a large public school located in the suburb of Hammond. In-state tuition and fees average $8,357, 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.
A rank of #5 makes Indiana University East one of the best values for communication & media studies. Indiana University East is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,462 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $37,463. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Southeast came in at #6 for value in communication & media studies this year. Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of New Albany. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $26,777. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Southeast admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Southern Indiana came in at #7 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, while out-of-state students pay about $22,907. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $17,860. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $29,059. Set against $17,860 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern Indiana admits about 96% of applicants.
Indiana University Northwest placed #8 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Gary, Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. 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. That is a strong return on a $26,434 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,258, while out-of-state students pay about $22,322. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $34,213 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University South Bend landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Indiana University South Bend earn a median of $38,094 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Ball State University placed #11 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $21,550 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $33,815. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #12 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $36,700 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne placed #13 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,532 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,887. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,289. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earn a median of $39,712 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,289 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Evansville came in at #14 for value in communication & media studies this year. University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evansville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,172. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,234. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Evansville earn a median of $59,618 early in their careers. Set against $25,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Evansville admits about 78% of applicants.
Valparaiso University landed the #15 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Valparaiso, Valparaiso University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,450. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Valparaiso University generally make around $35,164. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Grace College And Theological Seminary came in at #16 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Winona Lake, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,645. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $21,211 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Grace College And Theological Seminary generally make around $42,188. That is a strong return on a $21,211 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Depauw University came in at #17 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Greencastle, Depauw University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,070. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $43,141. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
University Of Indianapolis ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,200. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $33,054. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Hanover College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of Hanover, Hanover College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,698. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $31,621. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Hanover College admits about 84% of applicants.
Wabash College placed #20 among the best values for communication & media studies. Wabash College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Crawfordsville. In-state tuition and fees average $50,800. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Wabash College earn a median of $40,138 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Taylor University placed #21 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,490. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $21,832. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Taylor University earn a median of $45,090 early in their careers. Set against $21,832 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Saint Marys College earned the #22 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, Saint Marys College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,230. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Saint Marys College earn a median of $32,322 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Marys College admits about 76% of applicants.
Trine University landed the #23 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Trine University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Angola. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,560. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,765 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $54,881. Set against $25,765 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
More Communication & Media Studies Rankings
View All Communication & Media Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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.
