[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 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.
For return on investment in communication & media studies, no school beat Northern Kentucky University this year. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,088, while out-of-state students pay about $21,912. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median of $38,637 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Murray State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Murray State University is a large public school located in the town of Murray. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. Students borrow a median of $23,420 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $48,423. Set against $23,420 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Kentucky University earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $10,320, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $40,429. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Western Kentucky University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $33,955. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of The Cumberlands came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,875. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $19,331. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of The Cumberlands generally make around $27,754. That is a strong return on a $19,331 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Morehead State University landed the #6 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,024, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Students borrow a median of $24,857 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Morehead State University generally make around $26,803. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Georgetown. In-state tuition and fees average $42,840. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Georgetown College earn a median of $35,442 early in their careers. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky earned the #8 position for value in communication & media studies this year. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Students borrow a median of $23,875 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $39,311. Set against $23,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
Pikeville College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Pikeville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Pikeville. Students from in state pay about $24,850 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $22,966. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $57,157. Set against $22,966 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Louisville earned the #10 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,136, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,375 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of $38,219 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Lindsey Wilson College came in at #11 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Columbia, Lindsey Wilson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $27,808 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,769 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $25,549. That is a strong return on a $26,769 median debt.
Bellarmine University came in at #12 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,770. Students borrow a median of $25,853 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Bellarmine University earn a median of $34,858 early in their careers. Set against $25,853 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
