by our College Data Analytics Team
[Communication & Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 1687 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value communication & journalism schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & journalism, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in communication & journalism, no school beat Moorpark College this year. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $105,599. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saddleback College earned it the #2 place for communication & journalism. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,432, while out-of-state students pay about $14,812. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Saddleback College generally make around $15,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Canyons came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
Cerritos College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suffolk County Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. Students from in state pay about $6,630 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans. Communication & Journalism graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt.
College Of San Mateo earned the #6 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $11,428. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $12,831. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,172 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Orange Coast College placed #7 among the best values for communication & journalism. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,392, while out-of-state students pay about $11,640. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $46,306. That is a strong return on a $8,978 median debt.
Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,318, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Set against $14,692 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fresno City College came in at #9 for value in communication & journalism this year. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $7,234. Communication & Journalism graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,234 median debt.
Austin Community College District came in at #10 for value in communication & journalism this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $8,627. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $26,951. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Skyline College landed the #11 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $9,956. Median earnings reach $55,702 ten years out.
San Diego Mesa College landed the #12 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $29,852. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego Miramar College placed #13 among the best values for communication & journalism. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $8,098. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Monica College came in at #14 for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, compared with $10,708 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,193.
Santiago Canyon College placed #15 among the best values for communication & journalism. Located in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,164, with out-of-state students paying around $9,612. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $5,500. Communication & Journalism graduates of Santiago Canyon College earn a median of $34,100 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Mt San Antonio College landed the #16 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $44,391. That is a strong return on a $9,384 median debt.
Irvine Valley College earned the #17 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Irvine Valley College is a large public school located in the city of Irvine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $11,860. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $6,672 in student loans. Median earnings reach $49,156 ten years out. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grossmont College came in at #18 for value in communication & journalism this year. Grossmont College is a large public school located in the suburb of El Cajon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $10,628. Median earnings reach $40,309 ten years out.
Central New Mexico Community College placed #19 among the best values for communication & journalism. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $34,751. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
De Anza College landed the #20 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Located in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,571 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,596. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $7,271. Median earnings reach $56,596 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $7,271 median debt.
West Valley College came in at #21 for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $0, with out-of-state students paying around $9,320. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $25,378. That is a strong return on a $14,308 median debt.
Golden West College placed #22 among the best values for communication & journalism. Golden West College is a large public school located in the suburb of Huntington Beach. Students from in state pay about $1,380 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,628. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $82,984. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Riverside City College came in at #23 for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Students borrow a median of $8,767 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $37,102. That is a strong return on a $8,767 median debt.
Oxnard College came in at #24 for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,393 ten years after entry.
Diablo Valley College placed #25 among the best values for communication & journalism. Set in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,312 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $9,205. Communication & Journalism graduates of Diablo Valley College earn a median of $27,813 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,205 median debt.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communication & journalism value ranking:
Explore the best-value communication & journalism schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 1687 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.