[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value communication & media studies schools.
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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.
Our analysis ranked University Of Nebraska At Omaha the best value for a degree in communication & media studies in Nebraska. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,718 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,206. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $41,327. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska At Omaha admits about 87% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Wayne State College one of the best values for communication & media studies. Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wayne. In-state tuition and fees average $8,171. Students borrow a median of $25,325 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Wayne State College generally make around $35,833. Set against $25,325 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Bellevue University one of the best values for communication & media studies. Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bellevue. Students from in state pay about $12,873 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,852 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $61,548. Set against $27,852 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at University Of Nebraska Lincoln, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $22,138 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $39,702 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Creighton University one of the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,856. Students borrow a median of $25,831 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Creighton University generally make around $64,369. Set against $25,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
