[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.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2026 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.
For return on investment in communication & media studies, no school beat University Of North Alabama this year. University Of North Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Florence. In-state tuition and fees average $12,120, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $30,182. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of West Alabama came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the rural area of Livingston, University Of West Alabama is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,990, compared with $20,090 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $31,894 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of West Alabama earn a median of $53,270 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,894 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Troy University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,176, while out-of-state students pay about $20,352. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Troy University earn a median of $40,859 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Troy University admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Alabama A And M University earned it the #4 place for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Normal, Alabama A And M University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, with out-of-state students paying around $18,634. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $31,896 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $45,909. Set against $31,896 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Alabama A And M University admits about 58% of applicants.
Auburn University At Montgomery is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Montgomery. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,700, compared with $20,668 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Auburn University At Montgomery earn a median of $31,354 early in their careers. Set against $27,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Jacksonville State University earned the #6 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,894, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,750 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Jacksonville State University generally make around $35,147. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Alabama State University placed #7 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Montgomery, Alabama State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,248, compared with $19,576 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $32,750. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Alabama State University earn a median of $21,996 early in their careers. Set against $32,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Alabama State University admits about 98% of applicants.
University Of South Alabama placed #8 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,116 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,092 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of South Alabama earn a median of $30,153 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham came in at #9 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,098 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,562. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $39,139. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of Alabama At Birmingham admits about 88% of applicants.
Spring Hill College earned the #10 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Mobile, Spring Hill College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $24,054. Median earnings reach $51,500 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Alabama At Huntsville came in at #11 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Huntsville, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,132, while out-of-state students pay about $26,408. Students borrow a median of $24,797 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $41,713. That is a strong return on a $24,797 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
The University Of Alabama came in at #12 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,180, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $50,351. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University landed the #13 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Students borrow a median of $20,675 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $35,929. Set against $20,675 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
Samford University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,150. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $21,039. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $39,690. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
