[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 24 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communication & media studies students.
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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 Sinclair Community College this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $11,944 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $32,284. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio University Lancaster Campus earned it the #2 place for communication & media studies. Set in the rural area of Lancaster, Ohio University Lancaster Campus is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,362, while out-of-state students pay about $9,444. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,063 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Ohio University Lancaster Campus generally make around $36,666. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Miami University Hamilton, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Hamilton, Miami University Hamilton is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,012, compared with $18,811 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $21,500. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Miami University Hamilton earn a median of $34,959 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at University Of Akron Main Campus, which ranked #4. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,347 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $49,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Ohio State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $41,232. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blue Ash. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,106, while out-of-state students pay about $15,904. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $17,922. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $38,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wright State University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,991 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,691. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $33,171 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
Cleveland State University earned the #8 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $29,618. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Toledo landed the #9 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,157 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $30,591 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Otterbein University came in at #10 for value in communication & media studies this year. Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Westerville. Students from in state pay about $35,548 in tuition and fees. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Otterbein University generally make around $31,207. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. Otterbein University admits about 84% of applicants.
Wittenberg University landed the #11 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Wittenberg University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $45,940 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Wittenberg University generally make around $36,715. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #12 for value in communication & media studies this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $35,804. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Heidelberg University earned the #13 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Tiffin, Heidelberg University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $33,600. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Heidelberg University generally make around $42,334. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,063 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $36,666. That is a strong return on a $24,063 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Ashland University came in at #15 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Ashland, Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $31,210. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $2,625 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $25,465. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
The College Of Wooster placed #16 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the town of Wooster, The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,640 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,681 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of The College Of Wooster earn a median of $39,527 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The College Of Wooster admits about 60% of applicants.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Steubenville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,100. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,953 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $33,991. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Cedarville University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,150. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $22,110 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $57,104. Set against $22,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #19 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,869. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $39,953 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford earned the #20 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,519 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $34,959. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
John Carroll University came in at #21 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of University Heights, John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,500. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from John Carroll University generally make around $41,072. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Dayton came in at #22 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $49,140 in tuition and fees. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,375 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $42,629. Set against $25,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Dayton admits about 65% of applicants.
Xavier University came in at #23 for value in communication & media studies this year. Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. In-state tuition and fees average $49,425. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,825 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Xavier University earn a median of $39,771 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Denison University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Granville. Students from in state pay about $67,000 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,187 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $47,396. Set against $25,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Denison University admits about 17% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 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.
