2026 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for communication & journalism students.
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2026 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in West Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & journalism, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools
Leading the list is Marshall University, our #1 best value for communication & journalism in West Virginia. Marshall University is a large public school located in the city of Huntington. Students from in state pay about $9,162 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,342. Students borrow a median of $26,662 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $23,169. That is a strong return on a $26,662 median debt. Marshall University admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at American Public University System earned it the #2 place for communication & journalism. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $24,555. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $57,404. Set against $24,555 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Shepherd University one of the best values for communication & journalism. Set in the rural area of Shepherdstown, Shepherd University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,056 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,082 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,558 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Shepherd University earn a median of $23,653 early in their careers. Set against $19,558 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Virginia University earned it the #4 place for communication & journalism. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $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 $50,334. That is a strong return on a $24,265 median debt. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
