by our College Data Analytics Team
[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 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communication & media studies students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & media studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Saint Cloud State University tops our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools in Minnesota. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Students from in state pay about $10,245 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $40,279. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $56,395 early in their careers. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at University Of Minnesota Crookston, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Crookston, University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,288. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,288 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Minnesota Crookston earn a median of $42,458 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,288 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
A rank of #4 makes Rochester Community And Technical College one of the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,389. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $20,291 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $27,798. Set against $20,291 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Winona State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. In-state tuition and fees average $10,576, while out-of-state students pay about $17,308. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $38,197. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Metropolitan State University placed #6 among the best values for communication & media studies. Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $9,840. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $34,933. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Metropolitan State University generally make around $46,320. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Duluth landed the #7 spot for communication & media studies value this year. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,182. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $39,706. That is a strong return on a $24,182 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Moorhead placed #8 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,428. Students borrow a median of $23,774 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $36,172 early in their careers. Set against $23,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #9 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $39,798. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Hamline University placed #10 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $50,004. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Hamline University generally make around $42,201. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Gustavus Adolphus College placed #11 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $56,076. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Gustavus Adolphus College earn a median of $50,074 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Gustavus Adolphus College admits about 61% of applicants.
Augsburg College earned the #12 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,452. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Augsburg College earn a median of $36,604 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Saint Johns University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the rural area of Collegeville, Saint Johns University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,816. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $40,423. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
College Of Saint Benedict landed the #14 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Joseph, College Of Saint Benedict is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,756. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of College Of Saint Benedict earn a median of $45,702 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Crown College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Crown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,410. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $29,537 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $42,695. Set against $29,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 23%.
Bethel University Minnesota came in at #16 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,226 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,937 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Bethel University Minnesota generally make around $40,019. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bethel University Minnesota admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $45,100 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Walden University came in at #18 for value in communication & media studies this year. Walden University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,067. Students borrow a median of $43,566 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Walden University generally make around $47,157. That is a strong return on a $43,566 median debt.
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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.