[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong communication & media studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 37 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.
Our analysis ranked University Of Florida the best value for a degree in communication & media studies in Florida. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $58,996. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Atlantic University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $19,500. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $34,720 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida International University earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $44,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Florida State College At Jacksonville one of the best values for communication & media studies. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $19,139. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $43,508. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes University Of South Florida Main Campus one of the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $34,530. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #6 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Students from in state pay about $6,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,162. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $19,258 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $39,342. That is a strong return on a $19,258 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
The University Of West Florida came in at #7 for value in communication & media studies this year. The University Of West Florida is a large public school located in the rural area of Pensacola. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,776, while out-of-state students pay about $18,658. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from The University Of West Florida generally make around $30,850. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of West Florida admits about 58% of applicants.
University Of North Florida placed #8 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,964, with out-of-state students paying around $19,407. Students borrow a median of $17,345 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $36,842 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 53%.
University Of Central Florida ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $21,854. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $37,021. Set against $21,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Leo University landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the town of Saint Leo, Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $30,000 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $32,116. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Saint Leo University earn a median of $49,458 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,116 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Stetson University landed the #11 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Stetson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of DeLand. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,410. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Stetson University generally make around $33,190. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Bethune Cookman University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Bethune Cookman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,794. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $31,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Bethune Cookman University generally make around $25,459. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bethune Cookman University admits about 88% of applicants.
Ave Maria University came in at #13 for value in communication & media studies this year. Ave Maria University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Ave Maria. Students from in state pay about $30,198 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $19,801. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $36,842. Set against $19,801 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 41%.
Southeastern University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lakeland. Students from in state pay about $32,950 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Southeastern University generally make around $27,983. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Nova Southeastern University earned the #15 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,700. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Nova Southeastern University earn a median of $70,595 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach landed the #16 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of West Palm Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $40,650. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,787 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $54,317. That is a strong return on a $24,787 median debt. Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach admits about 82% of applicants.
Rollins College landed the #17 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Rollins College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,580. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Rollins College generally make around $36,285. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Full Sail University landed the #18 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $26,906 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $31,211. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $29,504. That is a strong return on a $31,211 median debt.
The University Of Tampa ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Tampa, The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,408. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of The University Of Tampa earn a median of $32,804 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami came in at #20 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $17,750. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $57,234. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Miami admits about 19% of applicants.
Lynn University landed the #21 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Lynn University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boca Raton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,480. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $46,524. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
