2027 Best Value Radio & Television Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Radio & Television](/majors/communication-journalism-media/radio-television-digital-communication/radio-and-television/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 60 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for radio & television students.
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2027 Best Value Radio & Television Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in radio & television, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Radio & Television Schools
For return on investment in radio & television, no school beat Cuny Brooklyn College this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Students borrow a median of $13,820 to complete the radio & television program here. Radio & Television graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $22,947 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Florida Online is a great value for students pursuing a degree in radio & television, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,876, with out-of-state students paying around $16,579. Students borrow a median of $17,916 to complete the radio & television program here. Soon after graduation, radio & television degree recipients from University Of Florida Online generally make around $33,178. That is a strong return on a $17,916 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in radio & television, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,916 to complete the radio & television program here. Early-career radio & television graduates make about $33,178. Set against $17,916 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Students looking for strong value in radio & television will find it at California State University Los Angeles, which ranked #4. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $7,164 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Typical student debt for radio & television graduates is $15,068. Soon after graduation, radio & television degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $22,133. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
A rank of #5 makes California State University Fullerton one of the best values for radio & television. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,504 to complete the radio & television program here. Soon after graduation, radio & television degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $24,650. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Northridge came in at #6 for value in radio & television this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Radio & Television graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career radio & television graduates make about $27,278. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Central Florida placed #7 among the best values for radio & television. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Students borrow a median of $21,202 to complete the radio & television program here. Early-career radio & television graduates make about $27,148. Set against $21,202 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
California State University Long Beach came in at #8 for value in radio & television this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Radio & Television graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Radio & Television graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $25,988 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
San Francisco State University came in at #9 for value in radio & television this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,846, while out-of-state students pay about $20,446. Radio & Television graduates carry a median of $17,683 in student loans. Radio & Television graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $28,753 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Arkansas State University Main Campus came in at #10 for value in radio & television this year. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,090, compared with $14,522 for out-of-state students. Radio & Television graduates carry a median of $22,937 in student loans. Early-career radio & television graduates make about $31,324. That is a strong return on a $22,937 median debt. Arkansas State University Main Campus admits about 82% of applicants.
San Jose State University earned the #11 position for value in radio & television this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. Students from in state pay about $8,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Western Kentucky University landed the #12 spot for radio & television value this year. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Typical student debt for radio & television graduates is $28,794. Early-career radio & television graduates make about $21,377. That is a strong return on a $28,794 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #13 for value in radio & television this year. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the radio & television program here. Early-career radio & television graduates make about $25,880. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
California State University Chico landed the #14 spot for radio & television value this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,472, with out-of-state students paying around $21,072. Radio & Television graduates carry a median of $18,591 in student loans. Radio & Television graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $45,591 early in their careers. Set against $18,591 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Monterey Bay placed #15 among the best values for radio & television. California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Seaside. In-state tuition and fees average $7,779, with out-of-state students paying around $20,379. Radio & Television graduates carry a median of $15,074 in student loans. Soon after graduation, radio & television degree recipients from California State University Monterey Bay generally make around $24,496. That is a strong return on a $15,074 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Chicago State University landed the #16 spot for radio & television value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Chicago State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,754, while out-of-state students pay about $12,757. Students borrow a median of $38,434 to complete the radio & television program here. Soon after graduation, radio & television degree recipients from Chicago State University generally make around $28,643. That is a strong return on a $38,434 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University earned the #17 position for value in radio & television this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Typical student debt for radio & television graduates is $34,019. Early-career radio & television graduates make about $20,526. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Youngstown State University earned the #18 position for value in radio & television this year. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, while out-of-state students pay about $10,286. Radio & Television graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans. Early-career radio & television graduates make about $30,089. Set against $26,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Northern Arizona University came in at #19 for value in radio & television this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Students borrow a median of $25,935 to complete the radio & television program here. Early-career radio & television graduates make about $24,578. Set against $25,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Houston landed the #20 spot for radio & television value this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Typical student debt for radio & television graduates is $23,000. Radio & Television graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $24,250 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value radio & television schools. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Students borrow a median of $25,025 to complete the radio & television program here. Early-career radio & television graduates make about $25,057. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #22 for value in radio & television this year. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,532, while out-of-state students pay about $16,446. Radio & Television graduates carry a median of $24,637 in student loans. Early-career radio & television graduates make about $26,494. Set against $24,637 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Ball State University earned the #23 position for value in radio & television this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Typical student debt for radio & television graduates is $23,443. Early-career radio & television graduates make about $32,118. That is a strong return on a $23,443 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
San Diego State University placed #24 among the best values for radio & television. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,728, while out-of-state students pay about $21,328. Typical student debt for radio & television graduates is $15,248. Early-career radio & television graduates make about $22,487. That is a strong return on a $15,248 median debt. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Montclair State University earned the #25 position for value in radio & television this year. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,912, with out-of-state students paying around $26,022. Typical student debt for radio & television graduates is $25,425. Radio & Television graduates of Montclair State University earn a median of $29,633 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,425 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Radio & Television Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for radio & television this year:
Other Radio & Television Degree Levels
Explore the best-value radio & television schools at other degree levels:
View All Radio & Television Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 60 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 60 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.
