2027 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Kentucky
[Communication & Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
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 Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & journalism, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools
Our analysis ranked Berea College the best value for a degree in communication & journalism in Kentucky. Located in the town of Berea, Berea College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,658. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $5,801 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Berea College generally make around $30,663. That is a strong return on a $5,801 median debt. Berea College admits about 19% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Kentucky University earned it the #2 place for communication & journalism. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,088, while out-of-state students pay about $21,912. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $24,791. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $36,356. Set against $24,791 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Murray State University earned it the #3 place for communication & journalism. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Murray State University earn a median of $37,923 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Kentucky State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the town of Frankfort, Kentucky State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,387 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,578. Students borrow a median of $29,774 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Kentucky State University earn a median of $28,497 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kentucky State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & journalism will find it at Western Kentucky University, which ranked #5. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $25,178 in student loans. Communication & Journalism graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $35,198 early in their careers. Set against $25,178 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Morehead State University came in at #6 for value in communication & journalism this year. Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Morehead. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $14,980. Students borrow a median of $24,100 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $27,491. That is a strong return on a $24,100 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Kentucky University placed #7 among the best values for communication & journalism. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,320, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $25,190. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $34,978. That is a strong return on a $25,190 median debt. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of The Cumberlands earned the #8 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,875. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $19,331 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $27,754. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of The Cumberlands admits about 99% of applicants.
Georgetown College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Set in the town of Georgetown, Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,840. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Georgetown College generally make around $35,442. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Louisville placed #10 among the best values for communication & journalism. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. Students from in state pay about $13,136 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $23,375 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $38,219. That is a strong return on a $23,375 median debt. University Of Louisville admits about 79% of applicants.
Lindsey Wilson College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Lindsey Wilson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,808. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $26,769. Communication & Journalism graduates of Lindsey Wilson College earn a median of $25,549 early in their careers. Set against $26,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Kentucky came in at #12 for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Students borrow a median of $25,038 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $43,573. Set against $25,038 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Alice Lloyd College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Set in the rural area of Pippa Passes, Alice Lloyd College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,960. Median earnings reach $40,573 ten years out. Alice Lloyd College admits about 75% of applicants.
Asbury University landed the #14 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Set in the town of Wilmore, Asbury University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $33,640. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $24,289. Communication & Journalism graduates of Asbury University earn a median of $25,879 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,289 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Bellarmine University earned the #15 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,770. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $25,853 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Bellarmine University generally make around $34,858. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Transylvania University came in at #16 for value in communication & journalism this year. Transylvania University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lexington. Students from in state pay about $46,870 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $26,653. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $45,208. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Midway College earned the #17 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the rural area of Midway, Midway College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,110. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $26,723 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $42,586. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
More Communication & Journalism Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 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.
