[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 22 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.
Old Dominion University earned the #1 spot for value among communication & media studies schools in Virginia. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,750 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,001 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Old Dominion University earn a median of $57,131 early in their careers. Set against $26,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Radford University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Radford University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Radford. Students from in state pay about $12,548 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,633 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $38,038. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Radford University admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at John Tyler Community College, which ranked #3. John Tyler Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Chester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,082, while out-of-state students pay about $11,520. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $11,262. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from John Tyler Community College generally make around $36,623. That is a strong return on a $11,262 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at George Mason University earned it the #4 place for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $63,131 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Bridgewater College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,090. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Bridgewater College earn a median of $29,477 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Emory And Henry College landed the #6 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Emory And Henry College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Emory. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,000. Students borrow a median of $26,938 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Emory And Henry College earn a median of $47,255 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Longwood University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,740, while out-of-state students pay about $27,980. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $36,062. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Longwood University admits about 90% of applicants.
Virginia State University landed the #8 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Petersburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,043, compared with $22,650 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Virginia State University earn a median of $23,897 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Union University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Union University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $17,830 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Virginia Union University earn a median of $18,076 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mary Washington ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,905, compared with $28,083 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $22,825 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Mary Washington earn a median of $43,243 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #11 for value in communication & media studies this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,118, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $21,230. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $47,368. That is a strong return on a $21,230 median debt. University Of Virginia Main Campus admits about 17% of applicants.
Regent University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,650. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Regent University earn a median of $52,175 early in their careers. Set against $23,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Lynchburg College came in at #13 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $36,750 in tuition and fees. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Lynchburg College generally make around $107,159. The acceptance rate is 43%.
James Madison University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,966, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $21,502 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $42,769. That is a strong return on a $21,502 median debt. James Madison University admits about 72% of applicants.
Christopher Newport University landed the #15 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Newport News. In-state tuition and fees average $16,828, with out-of-state students paying around $31,178. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Christopher Newport University earn a median of $36,953 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Averett University landed the #16 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Averett University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Danville. Students from in state pay about $38,550 in tuition and fees. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $28,595 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $53,876. That is a strong return on a $28,595 median debt. Averett University admits about 57% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #17 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $35,808 early in their careers. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,613. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $44,309. That is a strong return on a $20,613 median debt. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Roanoke College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salem. Students from in state pay about $38,068 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,975 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Roanoke College generally make around $36,220. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roanoke College admits about 83% of applicants.
Randolph Macon College landed the #20 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Randolph Macon College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,466. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $40,328. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Marymount University earned the #21 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $40,120 in tuition and fees. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,880 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Marymount University earn a median of $58,028 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,880 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $39,116 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
