2026 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Missouri
[Communication & Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong communication & journalism education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 43 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value communication & journalism schools.
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2026 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & journalism, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools
Our analysis ranked Missouri Southern State University the best value for a degree in communication & journalism in Missouri. Missouri Southern State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Joplin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,600, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $18,350. Communication & Journalism graduates of Missouri Southern State University earn a median of $30,201 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,350 median debt. Missouri Southern State University admits about 97% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Truman State University one of the best values for communication & journalism. Located in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,838, while out-of-state students pay about $18,566. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Communication & Journalism graduates of Truman State University earn a median of $31,853 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Truman State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & journalism will find it at University Of Missouri Kansas City, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Students borrow a median of $21,982 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $38,786. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Missouri St Louis one of the best values for communication & journalism. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,120, with out-of-state students paying around $37,620. Students borrow a median of $21,326 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $32,809. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri St Louis admits about 63% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Missouri Western State University one of the best values for communication & journalism. Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Saint Joseph. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,545, with out-of-state students paying around $18,455. Students borrow a median of $24,362 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $41,107. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lincoln University Missouri landed the #6 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Lincoln University Missouri is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Jefferson City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,796, compared with $17,692 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $34,532. Communication & Journalism graduates of Lincoln University Missouri earn a median of $26,356 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $34,532 median debt.
Southeast Missouri State University earned the #7 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. Students from in state pay about $9,903 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $24,942. Communication & Journalism graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $40,008 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southeast Missouri State University admits about 74% of applicants.
Northwest Missouri State University landed the #8 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Located in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,611, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Communication & Journalism graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of $34,195 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Harris Stowe State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Harris Stowe State University is a small public school located in the city of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $7,008, while out-of-state students pay about $11,640. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $32,394 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $31,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Central Missouri ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,050, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $25,665 in student loans. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $38,799 early in their careers. Set against $25,665 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Park University placed #11 among the best values for communication & journalism. Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Parkville. Students from in state pay about $12,116 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $22,112. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Park University generally make around $60,192. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #12 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Students borrow a median of $23,524 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $39,956. Set against $23,524 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #13 for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $20,974. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $49,194. That is a strong return on a $20,974 median debt. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
Avila University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,200. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $27,000. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $33,905. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Avila University admits about 88% of applicants.
Lindenwood University landed the #15 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,600 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,175 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Lindenwood University earn a median of $38,844 early in their careers. Set against $27,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Drury University placed #16 among the best values for communication & journalism. Located in the city of Springfield, Drury University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $36,745 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $23,250. Communication & Journalism graduates of Drury University earn a median of $33,862 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $27,166. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $24,499. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $67,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Maryville University Of Saint Louis admits about 95% of applicants.
Webster University earned the #18 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,750 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,500 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Webster University earn a median of $47,797 early in their careers. Set against $30,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Saint Louis University Main Campus placed #19 among the best values for communication & journalism. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,760. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $24,343. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $30,047. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
More Communication & Journalism Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 43 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
