2027 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Pennsylvania
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 56 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communication & journalism students.
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2027 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Pennsylvania
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
Our analysis ranked Delaware County Community College the best value for a degree in communication & journalism in Pennsylvania. Located in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,930, while out-of-state students pay about $15,540. Students borrow a median of $7,125 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Delaware County Community College earn a median of $40,102 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bucks County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism, landing the #2 spot this year. Bucks County Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Newtown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,646, with out-of-state students paying around $13,926. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $13,068 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $37,711. Set against $13,068 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lehigh Carbon Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $13,270. Students borrow a median of $14,450 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Lehigh Carbon Community College generally make around $39,957. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Luzerne County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Nanticoke, Luzerne County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,600, with out-of-state students paying around $16,260. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $14,614. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $44,353. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Community College Of Allegheny County one of the best values for communication & journalism. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,956, with out-of-state students paying around $12,583. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $15,263 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $47,420. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg earned the #6 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,975, with out-of-state students paying around $12,472. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $18,375. Communication & Journalism graduates of Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg earn a median of $41,282 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania earned the #7 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,046, compared with $22,870 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,117 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $31,419 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,117 median debt. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania admits about 93% of applicants.
Northampton County Area Community College landed the #8 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Set in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,550, compared with $15,270 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $17,500. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $30,471. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Community College Of Philadelphia placed #9 among the best values for communication & journalism. Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $4,632 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,744 for out-of-state students. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Communication & Journalism graduates of Community College Of Philadelphia earn a median of $24,794 early in their careers. Set against $14,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Montgomery County Community College earned the #10 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,690, compared with $17,250 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $12,000. Communication & Journalism graduates of Montgomery County Community College earn a median of $39,025 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earned the #11 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Indiana. In-state tuition and fees average $11,380, while out-of-state students pay about $16,297. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $26,246. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus generally make around $29,858. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania earned the #12 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Lincoln University, Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,512, while out-of-state students pay about $19,384. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $23,309. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Pennsylvania Western University placed #13 among the best values for communication & journalism. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. Students from in state pay about $11,436 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $28,263. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Pennsylvania Western University generally make around $33,534. That is a strong return on a $28,263 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania earned the #14 position for value in communication & journalism this year. East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of East Stroudsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,236, with out-of-state students paying around $19,202. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $29,963. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earned the #15 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,568, compared with $14,676 for out-of-state students. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $35,840. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania admits about 72% of applicants.
La Salle University came in at #16 for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,800. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $26,924 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $36,127. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus earned the #17 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,356. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $24,324. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $49,690. That is a strong return on a $24,324 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Albright College landed the #18 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Albright College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Reading. Students from in state pay about $29,082 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $27,000. Communication & Journalism graduates of Albright College earn a median of $31,704 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania placed #19 among the best values for communication & journalism. Set in the suburb of Millersville, Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,128, compared with $22,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $26,000. Communication & Journalism graduates of Millersville University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $35,999 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Gannon University placed #20 among the best values for communication & journalism. Set in the city of Erie, Gannon University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,656. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $26,934 in student loans. Communication & Journalism graduates of Gannon University earn a median of $73,658 early in their careers. Set against $26,934 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Robert Morris University placed #21 among the best values for communication & journalism. Located in the suburb of Moon Township, Robert Morris University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,770. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $26,748. Communication & Journalism graduates of Robert Morris University earn a median of $58,900 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Robert Morris University admits about 90% of applicants.
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania landed the #22 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Located in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,206, with out-of-state students paying around $16,330. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $26,360 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $29,788. That is a strong return on a $26,360 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania placed #23 among the best values for communication & journalism. Set in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,775 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,599. Median earnings reach $61,258 ten years out. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Marywood University placed #24 among the best values for communication & journalism. Set in the city of Scranton, Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,420. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $27,744 in student loans. Communication & Journalism graduates of Marywood University earn a median of $53,292 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Marywood University admits about 61% of applicants.
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania landed the #25 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Located in the town of Shippensburg, Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,570, compared with $15,824 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $26,000. Communication & Journalism graduates of Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $46,912 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in communication & journalism:
More Communication & Journalism Rankings
View All Communication & Journalism Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 56 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 56 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.
