[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 26 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.
University Of Florida tops our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools in Florida. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $58,996. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Florida Atlantic University one of the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $34,720. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida International University earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $18,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $44,331. Set against $18,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Florida Main Campus earned it the #4 place for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $34,530 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Florida State College At Jacksonville, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,139 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $43,508 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,139 median debt.
University Of North Florida earned the #6 position for value in communication & media studies this year. 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. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $17,345. 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. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida landed the #7 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $21,854 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $37,021. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
The University Of West Florida came in at #8 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,776, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of The University Of West Florida earn a median of $30,850 early in their careers. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Florida Gulf Coast University came in at #9 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, while out-of-state students pay about $25,162. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $19,258. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $39,342. That is a strong return on a $19,258 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Stetson University came in at #10 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of DeLand, Stetson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,410. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Stetson University earn a median of $33,190 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stetson University admits about 72% of applicants.
Edward Waters College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Edward Waters College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jacksonville. In-state tuition and fees average $16,366. Median earnings reach $34,782 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Bethune Cookman University landed the #12 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Bethune Cookman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $14,794 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $31,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $25,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Leo University placed #13 among the best values for communication & media studies. Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Leo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $32,116 in student loans. 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. Saint Leo University admits about 78% of applicants.
Barry University came in at #14 for value in communication & media studies this year. Barry University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Miami. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,350. Students borrow a median of $31,180 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Barry University generally make around $64,906. Set against $31,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Florida College placed #15 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Temple Terrace, Florida College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,360. Students borrow a median of $16,134 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Florida College generally make around $40,888. That is a strong return on a $16,134 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Ave Maria University earned the #16 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the rural area of Ave Maria, Ave Maria University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,198. 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. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,650. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,787. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach generally make around $54,317. Set against $24,787 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Nova Southeastern University came in at #18 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,700. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $70,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Nova Southeastern University admits about 73% of applicants.
Flagler College St Augustine ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Augustine, Flagler College St Augustine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $29,900. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Flagler College St Augustine earn a median of $27,434 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Southeastern University placed #20 among the best values for communication & media studies. Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lakeland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,950. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Southeastern University generally make around $27,983. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 53%.
Rollins College earned the #21 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Rollins College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Winter Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,580. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Rollins College earn a median of $36,285 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tampa earned the #22 position for value in communication & media studies this year. The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tampa. In-state tuition and fees average $34,408. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $32,804. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami came in at #23 for value in communication & media studies this year. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $57,234 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach came in at #24 for value in communication & media studies this year. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Students from in state pay about $44,074 in tuition and fees. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $22,845 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $70,246. Set against $22,845 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Full Sail University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $26,906 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $31,211 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Full Sail University earn a median of $29,504 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,211 median debt.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communication & media studies value ranking:
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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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 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.
