2027 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Maryland

[Communication & Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong communication & journalism education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for communication & journalism students.
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2027 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Maryland
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the communication & journalism degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools
Montgomery College earned the #1 spot for value among communication & journalism schools in Maryland. Set in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,394, compared with $14,250 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $11,230. Communication & Journalism graduates of Montgomery College earn a median of $24,833 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in communication & journalism will find it at Harford Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the rural area of Bel Air, Harford Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,032, with out-of-state students paying around $8,832. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $12,624. Communication & Journalism graduates of Harford Community College earn a median of $50,636 early in their careers. Set against $12,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Maryland College Park earned it the #3 place for communication & journalism. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,450 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $45,517. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,256, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,389 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore County generally make around $30,737. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maryland Baltimore County admits about 72% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & journalism will find it at Towson University, which ranked #5. Towson University is a very large public school located in the city of Towson. Students from in state pay about $11,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,820. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $20,926 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $30,640. That is a strong return on a $20,926 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Salisbury University came in at #6 for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,084, while out-of-state students pay about $22,174. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $22,250. Communication & Journalism graduates of Salisbury University earn a median of $34,704 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Salisbury University admits about 88% of applicants.
Morgan State University placed #7 among the best values for communication & journalism. Morgan State University is a large public school located in the city of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $8,229, while out-of-state students pay about $19,124. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $31,593. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Morgan State University generally make around $28,089. Set against $31,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Frostburg State University came in at #8 for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the town of Frostburg, Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,220, compared with $25,814 for out-of-state students. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $28,720. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Johns Hopkins University placed #9 among the best values for communication & journalism. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $13,426. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $82,754. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
Bowie State University placed #10 among the best values for communication & journalism. Bowie State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Bowie. In-state tuition and fees average $9,218, while out-of-state students pay about $19,938. Students borrow a median of $28,474 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Bowie State University earn a median of $52,873 early in their careers. Set against $28,474 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowie State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Hood College came in at #11 for value in communication & journalism this year. Hood College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Frederick. In-state tuition and fees average $47,700. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $24,703. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Hood College generally make around $20,422. That is a strong return on a $24,703 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland University College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. University Of Maryland University College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Adelphi. Students from in state pay about $8,136 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $27,971. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $53,513. Set against $27,971 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Goucher College earned the #13 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Goucher College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Students from in state pay about $53,350 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $26,000. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $43,670. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Goucher College admits about 78% of applicants.
Stevenson University earned the #14 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Stevenson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Owings Mills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,560. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $27,042 in student loans. Communication & Journalism graduates of Stevenson University earn a median of $42,647 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,042 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Washington College landed the #15 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Set in the town of Chestertown, Washington College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $55,081. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $26,651 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $37,940. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Baltimore came in at #16 for value in communication & journalism this year. Loyola University Baltimore is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,150. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $27,000. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $44,548. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Maryland Institute College Of Art ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,800. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $37,067. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
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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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.