2027 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communication & journalism students.
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2027 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 Twin Cities earned the #1 spot for value among communication & journalism schools in Minnesota. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $20,499 in student loans. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $42,469 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,499 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & journalism will find it at Saint Cloud State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,245. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $40,279. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Minnesota Crookston earned it the #3 place for communication & journalism. Set in the town of Crookston, University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. That is a strong return on a $25,288 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Rochester Community And Technical College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,389 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,291 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Rochester Community And Technical College generally make around $27,798. That is a strong return on a $20,291 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Winona State University earned it the #5 place for communication & journalism. 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, compared with $17,308 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $38,197. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Winona State University admits about 76% of applicants.
Metropolitan State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,840. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $34,933 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $46,320. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Metropolitan State University admits about 99% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Moorhead ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Moorhead. Students from in state pay about $10,428 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $22,483. Communication & Journalism graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $38,210 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 came in at #8 for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Students borrow a median of $25,817 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $33,825. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $39,798. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Hamline University placed #10 among the best values for communication & journalism. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $50,004. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Hamline University generally make around $42,201. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Hamline University admits about 88% of applicants.
Gustavus Adolphus College came in at #11 for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,076. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Gustavus Adolphus College generally make around $50,074. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Augsburg College came in at #12 for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,452 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $27,000. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $36,604. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Saint Johns University came in at #13 for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the rural area of Collegeville, Saint Johns University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,816. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Saint Johns University generally make around $40,423. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
College Of Saint Benedict came in at #14 for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Joseph, College Of Saint Benedict is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,756. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $45,702. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Crown College came in at #15 for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius, Crown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,410. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $29,537 in student loans. Communication & Journalism graduates of Crown College earn a median of $42,695 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,537 median debt. Roughly 23% of applicants are accepted.
Dunwoody College Of Technology placed #16 among the best values for communication & journalism. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $27,477 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $18,973. Communication & Journalism graduates of Dunwoody College Of Technology earn a median of $53,751 early in their careers. Set against $18,973 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Northwestern College Minnesota placed #17 among the best values for communication & journalism. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,920. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $21,639. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Northwestern College Minnesota generally make around $41,002. Set against $21,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern College Minnesota admits about 94% of applicants.
Bethel University Minnesota ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $44,226. Students borrow a median of $25,937 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $40,019. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #19 for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $45,100. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of St Thomas Minnesota admits about 85% of applicants.
Walden University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Walden University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $11,067. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $43,566. Communication & Journalism graduates of Walden University earn a median of $47,157 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
