[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value communication & media studies schools.
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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.
Capital Community College earned the #1 spot for value among communication & media studies schools in Connecticut. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,338 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $12,059. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $43,086. 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 Central Connecticut State University, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,050 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,550. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Central Connecticut State University generally make around $30,399. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Western Connecticut State University, which ranked #3. Western Connecticut State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Danbury. Students from in state pay about $13,401 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,901 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,069 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Western Connecticut State University earn a median of $27,909 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Southern Connecticut State University, which ranked #4. Southern Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the city of New Haven. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,442, compared with $16,942 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Southern Connecticut State University generally make around $29,984. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Southern Connecticut State University admits about 92% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Connecticut State University earned it the #5 place for communication & media studies. Set in the town of Willimantic, Eastern Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,928, while out-of-state students pay about $17,426. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Eastern Connecticut State University earn a median of $32,721 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
University Of Connecticut ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,068. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $40,473. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Post University earned the #7 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Waterbury, Post University is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,922. Students borrow a median of $35,364 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Post University earn a median of $50,494 early in their careers. Set against $35,364 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mitchell College came in at #8 for value in communication & media studies this year. Mitchell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New London. Students from in state pay about $40,490 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,500. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $28,355. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Haven ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,332 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of New Haven earn a median of $27,918 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Quinnipiac University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hamden. In-state tuition and fees average $55,480. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Quinnipiac University earn a median of $37,199 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Sacred Heart University earned the #11 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,404. Students borrow a median of $26,399 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $32,178. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Sacred Heart University admits about 65% of applicants.
Fairfield University earned the #12 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Fairfield University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,400. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $46,677. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 33%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 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.
