2027 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in West Virginia
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communication & journalism students.
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2027 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in West Virginia
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 Marshall University the best value for a degree in communication & journalism in West Virginia. Marshall University is a large public school located in the city of Huntington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,162, compared with $20,342 for out-of-state students. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $26,662 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $23,169. That is a strong return on a $26,662 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
American Public University System came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400. Students borrow a median of $24,555 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of American Public University System earn a median of $57,404 early in their careers. Set against $24,555 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in communication & journalism will find it at Shepherd University, which ranked #3. Set in the rural area of Shepherdstown, Shepherd University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,056, with out-of-state students paying around $19,082. Students borrow a median of $19,558 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $23,653. That is a strong return on a $19,558 median debt. Shepherd University admits about 97% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Virginia University earned it the #4 place for communication & journalism. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $24,265 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $51,097. That is a strong return on a $24,265 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Virginia State University earned it the #5 place for communication & journalism. Located in the suburb of Institute, West Virginia State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,570 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,990. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $30,788. Communication & Journalism graduates of West Virginia State University earn a median of $26,351 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
West Liberty University landed the #6 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Located in the rural area of West Liberty, West Liberty University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,893 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,442. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $27,144. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $48,761. That is a strong return on a $27,144 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
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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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
