[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong communication & media studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communication & media studies students.
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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.
Snow College tops our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,338, while out-of-state students pay about $14,288. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $10,440 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Snow College generally make around $42,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brigham Young University Idaho is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $13,207. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $36,941 early in their careers. Set against $13,207 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Pikes Peak Community College, which ranked #3. Pikes Peak Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Colorado Springs. In-state tuition and fees average $4,510, while out-of-state students pay about $17,110. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $16,066. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Pikes Peak Community College generally make around $41,037. Set against $16,066 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Western Idaho earned it the #4 place for communication & media studies. Located in the rural area of Nampa, College Of Western Idaho is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,446, with out-of-state students paying around $7,454. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of College Of Western Idaho earn a median of $40,963 early in their careers.
Weber State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,545. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $16,566. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $55,569. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Salt Lake Community College placed #6 among the best values for communication & media studies. Salt Lake Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. Students from in state pay about $4,426 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,244. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $12,220 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Salt Lake Community College generally make around $42,031. That is a strong return on a $12,220 median debt.
Southern Utah University came in at #7 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,962 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,192. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $13,900. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Southern Utah University earn a median of $40,245 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,900 median debt. Southern Utah University admits about 82% of applicants.
Community College Of Denver earned the #8 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Community College Of Denver is a large public school located in the city of Denver. In-state tuition and fees average $5,058, while out-of-state students pay about $17,658. Students borrow a median of $18,830 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $45,202. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Latter Day Saints Business College placed #9 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, Latter Day Saints Business College is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,004. Median earnings reach $50,630 ten years out.
Colorado State University Pueblo landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public school located in the city of Pueblo. Students from in state pay about $9,720 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,944 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $22,824 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Colorado State University Pueblo generally make around $31,769. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado State University Pueblo admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Denver landed the #11 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $39,662. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wyoming earned the #12 position for value in communication & media studies this year. University Of Wyoming is a large public school located in the town of Laramie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,768, compared with $24,178 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $14,900. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $28,547 early in their careers. Set against $14,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wyoming admits about 97% of applicants.
Front Range Community College came in at #13 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,663 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,263. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $17,384 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $40,414. Set against $17,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Utah State University earned the #14 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. In-state tuition and fees average $8,560, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $14,750. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Utah State University generally make around $37,574. Set against $14,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants.
Idaho State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,610, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Idaho State University generally make around $33,475. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #16 for value in communication & media studies this year. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,688. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $22,530. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $46,747. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
University Of Idaho came in at #17 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,084 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,844 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Idaho generally make around $43,246. That is a strong return on a $23,844 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Mesa State College landed the #18 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,927 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,036 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $32,899 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Utah placed #19 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $18,017 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $43,801. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs landed the #20 spot for communication & media studies value this year. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,906, while out-of-state students pay about $25,039. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earn a median of $37,002 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Dixie State College Of Utah placed #21 among the best values for communication & media studies. Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public school located in the city of Saint George. In-state tuition and fees average $6,306, compared with $18,246 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Dixie State College Of Utah generally make around $32,815. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt.
The University Of Montana earned the #22 position for value in communication & media studies this year. The University Of Montana is a large public school located in the city of Missoula. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,552, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,328. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $34,377. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Northern Colorado ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,901, with out-of-state students paying around $26,979. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,939 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Northern Colorado earn a median of $34,892 early in their careers. Set against $24,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Northern Colorado admits about 86% of applicants.
Regis University placed #24 among the best values for communication & media studies. Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,140. Students borrow a median of $31,773 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $72,028. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Regis University admits about 86% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #25 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,647. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $38,731 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
These schools also delivered strong value for communication & media studies this year:
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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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 30 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.
