2026 Best Value Communication Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools
[Communication Sciences](/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 410 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value communication sciences schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the communication sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Communication Sciences Schools
Our analysis ranked Pasadena City College the best value for a degree in communication sciences in the United States. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the communication sciences program here. Communication Sciences graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in communication sciences will find it at Santa Ana College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Communication Sciences graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Early-career communication sciences graduates make about $39,633. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in communication sciences will find it at Orange Coast College, which ranked #3. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. In-state tuition and fees average $1,392, while out-of-state students pay about $11,640. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete the communication sciences program here. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Orange Coast College generally make around $46,306. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cerritos College earned it the #4 place for communication sciences. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Communication Sciences graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Communication Sciences graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
American River College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,288 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $14,105. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from American River College generally make around $76,077. Set against $14,105 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Joaquin Delta College earned the #6 position for value in communication sciences this year. Set in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Communication Sciences graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from San Joaquin Delta College generally make around $65,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Other Communication Sciences Degree Levels
Explore the best-value communication sciences schools at other degree levels:
View All Communication Sciences Rankings >
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 · 410 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
