[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value communication & media studies schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & media studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked University Of South Carolina Aiken the best value for a degree in communication & media studies in South Carolina. Located in the suburb of Aiken, University Of South Carolina Aiken is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,760, compared with $21,218 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $34,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Carolina Aiken admits about 78% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Coastal Carolina University earned it the #2 place for communication & media studies. Coastal Carolina University is a large public school located in the city of Conway. Students from in state pay about $11,640 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,628. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Coastal Carolina University generally make around $29,821. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at University Of South Carolina Upstate, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Spartanburg, University Of South Carolina Upstate is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,588, with out-of-state students paying around $23,090. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $34,456. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Winthrop University, which ranked #4. Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rock Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,678, compared with $28,676 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Winthrop University earn a median of $35,198 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Winthrop University admits about 79% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at University Of South Carolina Beaufort, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Bluffton, University Of South Carolina Beaufort is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,730, while out-of-state students pay about $21,776. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $28,500. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Beaufort generally make around $28,017. That is a strong return on a $28,500 median debt. University Of South Carolina Beaufort admits about 72% of applicants.
Lander University landed the #6 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the town of Greenwood, Lander University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,700, with out-of-state students paying around $21,300. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Lander University generally make around $25,271. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
College Of Charleston earned the #7 position for value in communication & media studies this year. College Of Charleston is a large public school located in the city of Charleston. Students from in state pay about $12,978 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,296 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from College Of Charleston generally make around $36,903. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Claflin University placed #8 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the town of Orangeburg, Claflin University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,046. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $31,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Claflin University generally make around $23,156. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
South Carolina State University placed #9 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the town of Orangeburg, South Carolina State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,060, while out-of-state students pay about $21,750. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $31,452. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from South Carolina State University generally make around $39,914. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. South Carolina State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Benedict College landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the city of Columbia, Benedict College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $17,748 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $37,311 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $25,769. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Charleston Southern University landed the #11 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Charleston Southern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charleston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,520. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Charleston Southern University earn a median of $33,518 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of South Carolina Columbia landed the #12 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,500. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $35,586. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. University Of South Carolina Columbia admits about 60% of applicants.
Anderson University Sc came in at #13 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Sc is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,970. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $28,034. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Anderson University Sc earn a median of $49,036 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,034 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Furman University placed #14 among the best values for communication & media studies. Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Greenville. Students from in state pay about $59,770 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $22,631. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Furman University generally make around $41,766. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Furman University admits about 43% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 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.
