2027 Best Value Radio, Television & Digital Communication Schools in Iowa

[Radio, Television & Digital Communication](/majors/communication-journalism-media/radio-television-digital-communication/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong radio, television & digital communication education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for radio, television & digital communication students.
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2027 Best Value Radio, Television & Digital Communication Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the radio, television & digital communication degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Radio, Television & Digital Communication Schools
Leading the list is Iowa Central Community College, our #1 best value for radio, television & digital communication in Iowa. Set in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,496 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,788 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for radio, television & digital communication graduates is $16,135. Radio, Television & Digital Communication graduates of Iowa Central Community College earn a median of $39,624 early in their careers. Set against $16,135 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in radio, television & digital communication will find it at Hawkeye Community College, which ranked #2. Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waterloo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,525, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete the radio, television & digital communication program here. Radio, Television & Digital Communication graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $41,902 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Northern Iowa is a great value for students pursuing a degree in radio, television & digital communication, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Radio, Television & Digital Communication graduates carry a median of $19,604 in student loans. Radio, Television & Digital Communication graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $36,324 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,604 median debt. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Drake University one of the best values for radio, television & digital communication. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,960. Typical student debt for radio, television & digital communication graduates is $22,273. Early-career radio, television & digital communication graduates make about $56,228. Set against $22,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
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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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.