2027 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Alabama

[Communication & Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong communication & journalism education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value communication & journalism schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Alabama
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
University Of West Alabama tops our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools in Alabama. Located in the rural area of Livingston, University Of West Alabama is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,990 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,090 for out-of-state students. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $31,894 in student loans. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of West Alabama earn a median of $53,270 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Alabama is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of North Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Florence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,120, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of North Alabama earn a median of $30,182 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & journalism will find it at Auburn University At Montgomery, which ranked #3. Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Montgomery. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,700, compared with $20,668 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,500 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Auburn University At Montgomery generally make around $31,354. That is a strong return on a $27,500 median debt. Auburn University At Montgomery admits about 92% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Jacksonville State University earned it the #4 place for communication & journalism. Jacksonville State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Jacksonville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,894, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,750 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Jacksonville State University generally make around $35,147. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Jacksonville State University admits about 78% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & journalism will find it at Miles College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Miles College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,314. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $35,881. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,627 ten years after entry. Set against $35,881 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Troy University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,176, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $24,240. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Troy University generally make around $37,818. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of South Alabama landed the #7 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Set in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,116, with out-of-state students paying around $19,092. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $30,153. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Montevallo earned the #8 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the town of Montevallo, University Of Montevallo is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,948, with out-of-state students paying around $26,968. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $25,096. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of Montevallo earn a median of $36,673 early in their careers. Set against $25,096 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Montevallo admits about 54% of applicants.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham earned the #9 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,098, while out-of-state students pay about $22,562. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham generally make around $39,139. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Alabama At Huntsville earned the #10 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Huntsville, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,132, while out-of-state students pay about $26,408. Students borrow a median of $24,797 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $41,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
University Of Mobile placed #11 among the best values for communication & journalism. Set in the rural area of Mobile, University Of Mobile is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $26,910. Students borrow a median of $30,127 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $50,507. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Mobile admits about 78% of applicants.
Alabama State University landed the #12 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Alabama State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Montgomery. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,248, compared with $19,576 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $32,750 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $21,996. That is a strong return on a $32,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
The University Of Alabama ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,992 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $42,131. That is a strong return on a $24,992 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University came in at #14 for value in communication & journalism this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $22,304. Communication & Journalism graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $40,185 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,304 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Samford University landed the #15 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham. In-state tuition and fees average $40,150. Students borrow a median of $18,120 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $31,163. That is a strong return on a $18,120 median debt. Samford University admits about 82% of applicants.
Tuskegee University landed the #16 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Tuskegee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Tuskegee. In-state tuition and fees average $25,386. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Tuskegee University generally make around $48,198. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 49%.
More Communication & Journalism Rankings
View All Communication & Journalism Rankings >
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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.