[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.
College Factual analyzed 8 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.
Our analysis ranked Arkansas State University Main Campus the best value for a degree in communication & media studies in Arkansas. Located in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,090, compared with $14,522 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $21,250. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Arkansas State University Main Campus earn a median of $40,192 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Arkansas Tech University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,674, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $30,927. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arkansas Tech University admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at University Of Central Arkansas, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,523, while out-of-state students pay about $18,023. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Central Arkansas earn a median of $28,490 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Arkansas At Little Rock earned it the #4 place for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Little Rock, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,911, with out-of-state students paying around $22,721. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,717 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Arkansas At Little Rock generally make around $33,417. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 59%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Arkansas one of the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $29,966. Students borrow a median of $21,165 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $40,095 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arkansas admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of The Ozarks came in at #6 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Clarksville, University Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,950. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $21,130 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $31,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Southeast Arkansas College earned the #7 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Pine Bluff, Southeast Arkansas College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,200, while out-of-state students pay about $8,650. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $12,008. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $30,715. That is a strong return on a $12,008 median debt.
Ouachita Baptist University placed #8 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the town of Arkadelphia, Ouachita Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,500. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $23,521. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Ouachita Baptist University earn a median of $34,574 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
