2026 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Minnesota
[Communication & Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 37 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value communication & journalism schools.
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2026 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Minnesota
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 Minnesota Crookston tops our 2026 list of the best value communication & journalism schools in Minnesota. University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Crookston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,288. Students borrow a median of $25,288 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of Minnesota Crookston earn a median of $42,458 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
A rank of #2 makes Ridgewater College one of the best values for communication & journalism. Set in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,121 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,556 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $42,178. That is a strong return on a $15,556 median debt.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $20,499. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $42,478. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Cloud State University earned it the #4 place for communication & journalism. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Students from in state pay about $10,245 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $40,279. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Concordia University Saint Paul came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,600. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $29,026. Communication & Journalism graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of $59,155 early in their careers. Set against $29,026 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Rochester Community And Technical College earned the #6 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,389. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $20,291. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Rochester Community And Technical College generally make around $27,798. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bemidji State University landed the #7 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Located in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,237 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,875 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $34,243. That is a strong return on a $20,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Winona State University earned the #8 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,576, with out-of-state students paying around $17,308. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Winona State University generally make around $38,197. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #9 for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,428. Students borrow a median of $22,483 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $38,652 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,483 median debt. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #10 among the best values for communication & journalism. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public school located in the city of Duluth. In-state tuition and fees average $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $25,817 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $34,402. Set against $25,817 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #11 for value in communication & journalism this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Communication & Journalism graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $39,798 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Metropolitan State University came in at #12 for value in communication & journalism this year. Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $9,840. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $34,933 in student loans. Communication & Journalism graduates of Metropolitan State University earn a median of $46,320 early in their careers. Set against $34,933 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Metropolitan State University admits about 99% of applicants.
Hamline University came in at #13 for value in communication & journalism this year. Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $50,004. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Hamline University earn a median of $42,201 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Hamline University admits about 88% of applicants.
Augsburg College landed the #14 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,452. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $27,000. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $36,604. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Northwestern College Minnesota landed the #15 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,920. Students borrow a median of $21,639 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Northwestern College Minnesota generally make around $41,009. Set against $21,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern College Minnesota admits about 94% of applicants.
Concordia College At Moorhead ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Concordia College At Moorhead is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,170. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Concordia College At Moorhead earn a median of $42,431 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Gustavus Adolphus College earned the #17 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $56,076 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $27,000. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $50,074. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Saint Johns University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Saint Johns University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Collegeville. In-state tuition and fees average $55,816. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $40,423. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Dunwoody College Of Technology came in at #19 for value in communication & journalism this year. Dunwoody College Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,477. Students borrow a median of $18,973 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $53,751. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Crown College placed #20 among the best values for communication & journalism. Crown College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,410. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $29,537 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $42,695. That is a strong return on a $29,537 median debt. Crown College admits about 23% of applicants.
College Of Saint Benedict placed #21 among the best values for communication & journalism. College Of Saint Benedict is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Joseph. Students from in state pay about $55,756 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from College Of Saint Benedict generally make around $45,702. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel University Minnesota earned the #22 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,226. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $25,937 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $40,019. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bethel University Minnesota admits about 88% of applicants.
Macalester College came in at #23 for value in communication & journalism this year. Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $68,104 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $22,147. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Macalester College generally make around $42,517. That is a strong return on a $22,147 median debt. Roughly 28% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,398. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $45,100. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 37 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.
