2027 Best Value Radio & Television Schools in the Southwest Region
[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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for radio & television students.
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2027 Best Value Radio & Television Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in radio & television, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Radio & Television Schools
Austin Community College District tops our 2027 list of the best value radio & television schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Typical student debt for radio & television graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, radio & television degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $26,951. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Del Mar College earned it the #2 place for radio & television. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,476 to complete the radio & television program here. Early-career radio & television graduates make about $40,661. Set against $7,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value radio & television schools. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for radio & television graduates is $8,542. Early-career radio & television graduates make about $17,558. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Lone Star College System one of the best values for radio & television. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,512. Radio & Television graduates carry a median of $10,425 in student loans. Early-career radio & television graduates make about $39,954. Set against $10,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in radio & television will find it at Northern Arizona University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,935 to complete the radio & television program here. Soon after graduation, radio & television degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $24,578. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston earned the #6 position for value in radio & television this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of North Texas landed the #7 spot for radio & television value this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Radio & Television graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Radio & Television graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $26,773 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
Sam Houston State University landed the #8 spot for radio & television value this year. Sam Houston State University is a very large public school located in the town of Huntsville. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,068. Radio & Television graduates carry a median of $24,850 in student loans. Radio & Television graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $46,365 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #9 among the best values for radio & television. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Radio & Television graduates carry a median of $21,858 in student loans. Soon after graduation, radio & television degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $31,977. Set against $21,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Texas Southern University came in at #10 for value in radio & television this year. Set in the city of Houston, Texas Southern University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,637, with out-of-state students paying around $21,473. Students borrow a median of $34,750 to complete the radio & television program here. Radio & Television graduates of Texas Southern University earn a median of $41,890 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $34,750 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University came in at #11 for value in radio & television this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for radio & television graduates is $24,250. Soon after graduation, radio & television degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $31,546. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #12 spot for radio & television value this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,044 to complete the radio & television program here. Radio & Television graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $27,551 early in their careers. Set against $23,044 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.
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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 · 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.
