2027 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 35 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communication & journalism students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
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 Utah Valley University the best value for a degree in communication & journalism in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $14,200 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $44,202. That is a strong return on a $14,200 median debt.
Snow College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,338, while out-of-state students pay about $14,288. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $10,440. Communication & Journalism graduates of Snow College earn a median of $42,776 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brigham Young University Idaho came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $13,207. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $36,941. Set against $13,207 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Pikes Peak Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,510, compared with $17,110 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,066 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Pikes Peak Community College generally make around $41,037. Set against $16,066 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes College Of Western Idaho one of the best values for communication & journalism. College Of Western Idaho is a very large public school located in the rural area of Nampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,446, with out-of-state students paying around $7,454. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $12,500. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from College Of Western Idaho generally make around $40,963.
Weber State University placed #6 among the best values for communication & journalism. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,545 for out-of-state students. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $16,566 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $55,569. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Salt Lake Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Set in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,426, compared with $14,244 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $12,220. Communication & Journalism graduates of Salt Lake Community College earn a median of $42,031 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,220 median debt.
Southern Utah University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,962, compared with $21,192 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,900 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $40,245. Set against $13,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Latter Day Saints Business College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, Latter Day Saints Business College is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $4,004 in tuition and fees. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,630.
Community College Of Denver came in at #10 for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,058 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $18,830. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $45,202. Set against $18,830 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Colorado State University Pueblo came in at #11 for value in communication & journalism this year. Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public school located in the city of Pueblo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,720, with out-of-state students paying around $17,944. Students borrow a median of $22,824 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Colorado State University Pueblo generally make around $31,769. Set against $22,824 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Aims Community College placed #12 among the best values for communication & journalism. Set in the city of Greeley, Aims Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,258 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,786. Students borrow a median of $11,199 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $45,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Colorado Denver placed #13 among the best values for communication & journalism. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $39,662. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wyoming landed the #14 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Located in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,768, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $14,900 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $28,547. That is a strong return on a $14,900 median debt. University Of Wyoming admits about 97% of applicants.
Front Range Community College landed the #15 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Set in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,663, while out-of-state students pay about $17,263. Students borrow a median of $17,384 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Front Range Community College generally make around $40,414. Set against $17,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Utah State University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Students borrow a median of $16,228 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Utah State University earn a median of $36,052 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,228 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Idaho State University placed #17 among the best values for communication & journalism. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,610 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $29,000. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Idaho State University generally make around $33,475. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #18 for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,688. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $13,667. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $50,544. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Idaho ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. University Of Idaho is a large public school located in the town of Moscow. In-state tuition and fees average $9,084, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Idaho generally make around $37,788. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Mesa State College placed #20 among the best values for communication & journalism. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. Students from in state pay about $9,927 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $23,036. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $32,899. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver earned the #21 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $29,038. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $35,289. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Utah ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $18,017 in student loans. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $43,801 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,017 median debt. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earned the #23 position for value in communication & journalism this year. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public school located in the city of Colorado Springs. In-state tuition and fees average $10,906, compared with $25,039 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $19,500. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $37,002. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Dixie State College Of Utah placed #24 among the best values for communication & journalism. Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public school located in the city of Saint George. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,306, with out-of-state students paying around $18,246. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $32,815. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Montana ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,552 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,671 for out-of-state students. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $24,887 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $35,366. That is a strong return on a $24,887 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 35 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in communication & journalism:
Narrow Communication & Journalism Schools by State
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 35 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.
