2027 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in North Carolina

[Communication Sciences](/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value communication sciences schools.
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2027 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Communication Sciences Schools
Leading the list is University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, our #1 best value for communication sciences in North Carolina. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Communication Sciences graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Early-career communication sciences graduates make about $64,115. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Greensboro one of the best values for communication sciences. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public school located in the city of Greensboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Communication Sciences graduates carry a median of $22,699 in student loans. Early-career communication sciences graduates make about $54,267. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in communication sciences will find it at Western Carolina University, which ranked #3. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. In-state tuition and fees average $4,630, with out-of-state students paying around $8,630. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $21,287. Early-career communication sciences graduates make about $39,097. That is a strong return on a $21,287 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina Central University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,699 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,735. Communication Sciences graduates carry a median of $31,173 in student loans. Communication Sciences graduates of North Carolina Central University earn a median of $57,400 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina Central University admits about 87% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at East Carolina University earned it the #5 place for communication sciences. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Communication Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $69,294. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Appalachian State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value communication sciences schools. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,579 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,212. Communication Sciences graduates carry a median of $19,875 in student loans. Communication Sciences graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $33,735 early in their careers. Set against $19,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
More Communication Sciences Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.