[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.
College Factual analyzed 12 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.
For return on investment in communication & media studies, no school beat University Of Missouri Kansas City this year. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, compared with $32,271 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,982 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $38,786. That is a strong return on a $21,982 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Truman State University earned it the #2 place for communication & media studies. Truman State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kirksville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,838, compared with $18,566 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Truman State University earn a median of $31,853 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Truman State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at University Of Central Missouri, which ranked #3. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. In-state tuition and fees average $10,050, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $22,312 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $45,496. Set against $22,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Missouri admits about 64% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at University Of Missouri St Louis, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,120, with out-of-state students paying around $37,620. Students borrow a median of $21,326 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $32,809. Set against $21,326 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Northwest Missouri State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Northwest Missouri State University is a large public school located in the town of Maryville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $34,195. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $44,078. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #7 for value in communication & media studies this year. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $38,584. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Lindenwood University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,600 in tuition and fees. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $28,500 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $50,346. Set against $28,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Drury University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Drury University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $36,745. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,641 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Drury University earn a median of $37,267 early in their careers. Set against $26,641 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis placed #10 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,166. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,499. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $67,909. Set against $24,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Students borrow a median of $24,343 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $30,047. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Webster University landed the #12 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $31,750 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $30,500. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Webster University generally make around $55,445. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
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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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
