[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communication & media studies students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & media studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
University Of North Georgia tops our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools in Georgia. Set in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,444, compared with $16,956 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of North Georgia earn a median of $38,237 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Clayton State University one of the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Morrow, Clayton State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,532. Students borrow a median of $35,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Clayton State University generally make around $34,493. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Georgia earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $22,500. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $38,717. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Valdosta State University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,124 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,836. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $26,706. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Columbus State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,898, with out-of-state students paying around $17,610. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Columbus State University earn a median of $32,078 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,500 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Albany State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Albany State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Albany. In-state tuition and fees average $5,656, compared with $17,008 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $28,158 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Albany State University generally make around $47,466. That is a strong return on a $28,158 median debt.
Fort Valley State University came in at #7 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Fort Valley, Fort Valley State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,526, with out-of-state students paying around $16,878. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $34,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $22,410. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Augusta University placed #8 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Augusta, Augusta University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,414, compared with $24,734 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,520 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $30,796. Set against $30,520 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Southern University placed #9 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,022, with out-of-state students paying around $17,734. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Georgia State University landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,664, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. Students borrow a median of $27,854 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of $33,833 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Military College Milledgeville ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Georgia Military College Milledgeville is a large public school located in the town of Milledgeville. In-state tuition and fees average $7,605. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $13,587. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Georgia Military College Milledgeville earn a median of $29,788 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oglethorpe University placed #12 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Atlanta, Oglethorpe University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,590. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,800. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $34,113. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Mercer University earned the #13 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,565. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,990. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Mercer University generally make around $35,712. Set against $26,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mercer University admits about 69% of applicants.
Morehouse College placed #14 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Atlanta, Morehouse College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,893. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Morehouse College earn a median of $26,839 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 44%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
