
[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. 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 12 schools to find the best return on investment 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.
Our analysis ranked Montgomery College the best value for a degree in communication & media studies in Maryland. Located in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,394, compared with $14,250 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $11,230. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Montgomery College generally make around $24,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Maryland College Park earned it the #2 place for communication & media studies. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $43,696. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Maryland Baltimore County one of the best values for communication & media studies. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. Students from in state pay about $13,256 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,389 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of $30,737 early in their careers. Set against $24,389 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland Baltimore County admits about 72% of applicants.
Towson University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Towson University is a very large public school located in the city of Towson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,728, compared with $29,820 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $20,309 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Towson University earn a median of $42,657 early in their careers. Set against $20,309 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Frostburg State University, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Frostburg, Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,220, while out-of-state students pay about $25,814. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Frostburg State University generally make around $28,720. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Johns Hopkins University landed the #6 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $82,754. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
Salisbury University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,084 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,174. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Salisbury University earn a median of $34,704 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Salisbury University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Maryland University College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,136 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,336. Students borrow a median of $27,971 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Maryland University College generally make around $53,513. Set against $27,971 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Goucher College came in at #9 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Goucher College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,350 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $43,670. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Stevenson University placed #10 among the best values for communication & media studies. Stevenson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Owings Mills. Students from in state pay about $40,560 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,042 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Stevenson University generally make around $42,647. That is a strong return on a $27,042 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Washington College came in at #11 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Chestertown, Washington College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $55,081 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,651. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Washington College earn a median of $37,940 early in their careers. Set against $26,651 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Washington College admits about 57% of applicants.
Loyola University Baltimore earned the #12 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Loyola University Baltimore is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $57,150 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 Loyola University Baltimore generally make around $42,640. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
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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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.