[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 3 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value communication & media studies schools.
What’s on this page:
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 South Dakota State University the best value for a degree in communication & media studies in South Dakota. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $39,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
University Of South Dakota is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,432, with out-of-state students paying around $12,942. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $35,792. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at University Of Sioux Falls, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Sioux Falls, University Of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,750. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,103 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Sioux Falls earn a median of $46,956 early in their careers. Set against $26,103 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
