[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 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 Raritan Valley Community College the best value for a degree in communication & media studies in New Jersey. Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Branchburg. Students from in state pay about $5,664 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,584. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $9,668 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Raritan Valley Community College generally make around $47,248. Set against $9,668 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Union County College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Cranford, Union County College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, compared with $9,500 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,350 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Union County College earn a median of $21,484 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at County College Of Morris earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,210, while out-of-state students pay about $14,310. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of County College Of Morris earn a median of $15,905 early in their careers. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kean University earned it the #4 place for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,299, while out-of-state students pay about $22,446. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Kean University earn a median of $27,983 early in their careers. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kean University admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Montclair State University one of the best values for communication & media studies. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. Students from in state pay about $15,912 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,022. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,713. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Montclair State University earn a median of $42,803 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,713 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Ramapo College Of New Jersey ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Ramapo College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Mahwah. In-state tuition and fees average $16,777, while out-of-state students pay about $27,708. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Ramapo College Of New Jersey generally make around $31,966. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ramapo College Of New Jersey admits about 71% of applicants.
New Jersey City University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Jersey City, New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,460. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $16,914. Communication & Media Studies graduates of New Jersey City University earn a median of $13,796 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,914 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
William Paterson University Of New Jersey came in at #8 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Wayne, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,704, with out-of-state students paying around $25,344. Students borrow a median of $26,439 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $31,870. Set against $26,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey landed the #9 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the rural area of Galloway, The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,266, while out-of-state students pay about $24,524. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $21,500. Communication & Media Studies graduates of The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey earn a median of $28,263 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey admits about 89% of applicants.
Rowan University placed #10 among the best values for communication & media studies. Rowan University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glassboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,574, compared with $26,932 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $34,549 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rowan University admits about 78% of applicants.
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham earned the #11 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Madison, Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,468. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $34,772. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham admits about 95% of applicants.
Drew University earned the #12 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Madison, Drew University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,100. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,449 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Drew University generally make around $34,305. Set against $26,449 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #13 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,929 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $43,649. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
Rider University placed #14 among the best values for communication & media studies. Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,120. Students borrow a median of $26,241 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Rider University generally make around $41,864. That is a strong return on a $26,241 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
The College Of New Jersey earned the #15 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,632, with out-of-state students paying around $25,752. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from The College Of New Jersey generally make around $37,151. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Monmouth University landed the #16 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the suburb of West Long Branch, Monmouth University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $46,552 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,380 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Monmouth University generally make around $25,742. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Monmouth University admits about 89% of applicants.
Seton Hall University placed #17 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,170. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $23,422. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of $63,871 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,422 median debt. Seton Hall University admits about 73% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
