2026 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in Virginia

[Communication Sciences](/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value communication sciences schools.
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2026 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in Virginia
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
Leading the list is Old Dominion University, our #1 best value for communication sciences in Virginia. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,750, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $44,860. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Radford University earned it the #2 place for communication sciences. Radford University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Radford. In-state tuition and fees average $12,548, while out-of-state students pay about $25,633. Communication Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $53,735. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Radford University admits about 90% of applicants.
Longwood University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,740, while out-of-state students pay about $27,980. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $20,500. Early-career communication sciences graduates make about $58,845. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
James Madison University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value communication sciences schools. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. In-state tuition and fees average $13,966, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. Communication Sciences graduates carry a median of $19,975 in student loans. Early-career communication sciences graduates make about $60,393. Set against $19,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $19,282. Communication Sciences graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $64,510 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
Hampton University landed the #6 spot for communication sciences value this year. Hampton University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hampton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,592. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $26,169. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Hampton University generally make around $55,509. Set against $26,169 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
More Communication Sciences Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 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.