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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism in the Plains States Region

81 Ranked Colleges
6,250 Degrees Awarded
$15,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Communication & Journalism is the 11th most popular major in the country with 121,387 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, communication and journalism graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,549 and had an average of $24,893 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 7,211 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,619 and $25,041 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 6,250 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 81 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in communication and journalism. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality communication and journalism programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the communication and journalism program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Communication & Journalism Schools

The communication & journalism school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism in the Plains States Region

#1

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#14 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Dakota. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. UND is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 77 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

UND did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UND is $15,738 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of North Dakota

#23 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Fargo, North Dakota that handed out 52 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Dakota State University, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus is $16,584 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at North Dakota State University - Main Campus

#3

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri
#16 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Truman State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Truman State University is a public institution located in Kirksville, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 50 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Truman State also took the #16 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,462 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students per year to attend Truman State University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Truman State

#4

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of South Dakota. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. University of South Dakota is a public institution located in Vermillion, South Dakota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 66 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of South Dakota is $18,555 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at USD

#5

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota

Out of the 81 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, South Dakota State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Brookings, South Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 60 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $19,252 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students per year to attend South Dakota State University.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full South Dakota State University Communication & Journalism Report

#6

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Winona State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 66 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Winona State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Winona State University is $17,656 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Winona State University

#12 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 107 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Duluth, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $17,067 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at UMN Duluth

#13 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a public institution located in Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 121 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $16,221 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students per year to attend Minnesota State Mankato.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Minnesota State Mankato

University of Minnesota - Crookston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. University of Minnesota - Crookston is a small school located in Crookston, Minnesota that handed out 23 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,952 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students per year to attend University of Minnesota - Crookston.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at UMN Crookston

#10

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. Bemidji State University is a public institution located in Bemidji, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,868 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students per year to attend Bemidji State University.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Bemidji State University

#11

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

With a ranking of #11, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 115 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Saint Cloud State University is $14,267 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students.

Full Saint Cloud State University Communication & Journalism Report

#12

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Cape Girardeau, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 163 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $12,774 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

Full Southeast Missouri State University Communication & Journalism Report

#13

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska

Bellevue University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #13. Bellevue University is located in Bellevue, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $15,616 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students per year to attend Bellevue University.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Bellevue University

#14

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, University of Northern Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. University of Northern Iowa is a public institution located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 145 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNI, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,620 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at UNI

#15

Central College

Pella, Iowa
#24 in overall quality

Central College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Central is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pella, Iowa. It awarded 7 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Central also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #24. The yearly cost to attend Central is $23,269 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Central

#16

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Metropolitan State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 46 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Metro State is $15,225 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

Full Metropolitan State University Communication & Journalism Report

University of Nebraska at Kearney ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Kearney, Nebraska, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney is $16,017 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at University of Nebraska at Kearney

#18

Valley City State University

Valley City, North Dakota

With a ranking of #18, Valley City State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Valley City, North Dakota, this small public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,981 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students per year to attend Valley City State University.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Valley City State University

#9 in overall quality

Iowa State University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 285 students in 2019-2020.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State University is $15,496 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Iowa State Communication & Journalism Report

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 236 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State is $16,725 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Missouri State

Minnesota State University - Moorhead came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Moorhead, Minnesota, and it awarded 54 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $16,893 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students per year to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Minnesota State University - Moorhead

With a ranking of #22, Northwest Missouri State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Northwest is a public institution located in Maryville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 64 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,354 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students per year to attend Northwest.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Northwest Missouri State University

#25 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. UNOMAHA is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 86 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNOMAHA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNOMAHA is $14,040 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at UNOMAHA

#24

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Central Missouri is a medium-sized public school situated in Warrensburg, Missouri. It awarded 86 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Central Missouri is $13,677 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at University of Central Missouri

#25

Wayne State College

Wayne, Nebraska

With a ranking of #25, Wayne State College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Wayne, Nebraska, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,765 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students per year to attend WSC.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at WSC

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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