2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Communication & Media Studies School for You
In 2020-2021, 66,787 communication and media studies students received their degrees and certificates, making the major the #10 most popular in the country.
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 683 schools in the United States to see which programs offered the best value experiences for communications students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the United States
Check out the communications programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Communication & Media Studies
Our analysis found La Salle University to be the best value school for communication and media studies students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. La Salle is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia.
La Salle undergraduate students pay an average of $33,150 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that communications majors at La Salle take out is $27,000. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $459, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Communication & Media Studies at La Salle University Report
Out of the 683 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia College Chicago landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Columbia are $27,786 per year.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Columbia College Chicago
Out of the 683 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Colorado State University - Global Campus landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the city of Greenwood Village, Colorado State University - Global Campus is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Colorado State University - Global Campus are $8,400 per year. While working on their degree, communications majors at Colorado State University - Global Campus accumulate an average of around $31,905 in student debt.
In addition to its great value ranking, Colorado State University - Global Campus is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools list.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Colorado State University - Global Campus
Out of the 683 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Provo landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the midsize city of Provo, BYU is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.
BYU undergraduate students pay an average of $6,120 in tuition and fees each year.
In addition to its great value ranking, BYU is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools list.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Brigham Young University - Provo
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools list. Located in the town of Rexburg, BYU - I is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at BYU - I are $4,416 a year. Communications majors at BYU - I take out an average of $14,750 in student loans while working on their egree.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Brigham Young University - Idaho
With a ranking of #6, Central New Mexico Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. CNM is a large public school located in the city of Albuquerque.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at CNM are $7,540 a year. On average, communications graduates from CNM take out $6,430 in student loans while working on their degree.
With a ranking of #7, Drake University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. Drake is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Des Moines.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Drake are $45,912 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Drake also did well on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Bellevue University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bellevue.
Bellevue University undergraduate students pay an average of $8,310 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from Bellevue University carry an average student debtload of $26,083.
Bellevue University excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools list.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Bellevue University
University of Phoenix - Arizona came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking. UOPX - Arizona is a very large private for-profit school located in the large city of Tempe.
UOPX - Arizona undergraduate students pay an average of $9,552 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, communications majors at UOPX - Arizona accumulate an average of around $44,875 in student debt.
UOPX - Arizona also claimed a spot on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Phoenix - Arizona Report
LaGuardia Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools list. Located in the city of Long Island City, LaGuardia is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LaGuardia are $8,098 per year. On average, communications graduates from LaGuardia take out $6,461 in student loans while working on their degree.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at LaGuardia Community College
Wayne State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #11 on the list. WSC is a small public school located in the distant town of Wayne.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WSC are $7,458 per year. On average, communications graduates from WSC take out $23,407 in student loans while working on their degree.
WSC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools list.
University of Maryland Global Campus came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking. UMGC is a very large public school located in the suburb of Adelphi.
UMGC undergraduate students pay an average of $12,336 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from UMGC carry an average student debtload of $26,897.
UMGC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools list.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Maryland Global Campus Report
Metropolitan State University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metro State is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Metro State are $9,394 a year. Communications majors at Metro State take out an average of $34,724 in student loans while working on their egree.
Metro State also claimed a spot on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Metropolitan State University
The Graduate Center, CUNY did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in the city of New York, The Graduate Center is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at The Graduate Center are $15,360 a year. While working on their degree, communications majors at The Graduate Center accumulate an average of around $19,937 in student debt.
In addition to its great value ranking, The Graduate Center is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools list.
With a ranking of #15, Borough of Manhattan Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the large city of New York, BMCC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
BMCC undergraduate students pay an average of $8,050 in tuition and fees each year. Communications majors at BMCC take out an average of $8,821 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Borough of Manhattan Community College Report
Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Scottsdale, ASU - Skysong is a public school with a fairly large student population.
ASU - Skysong undergraduate students pay an average of $13,092 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, communications majors at ASU - Skysong accumulate an average of around $22,750 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $290.
ASU - Skysong also claimed a spot on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Arizona State University - Skysong
North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. North Dakota State University is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Fargo.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at North Dakota State University are $14,876 a year.
North Dakota State University excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools list.
Full Communication & Media Studies at North Dakota State University - Main Campus Report
Austin Community College District landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. Austin Community College District is a fairly large public school located in the city of Austin.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Austin Community College District are $10,590 per year.
Wilmington University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking. Wilmington University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of New Castle.
Wilmington University undergraduate students pay an average of $11,760 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Wilmington University Report
With a ranking of #21, Western Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the town of Macomb, WIU is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WIU are $13,297 per year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from WIU carry an average student debtload of $28,032.
San Diego Mesa College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a public college with a large student population.
San Diego Mesa College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,512 in tuition and fees each year. On average, communications graduates from San Diego Mesa College take out $5,750 in student loans while working on their degree.
South Dakota State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking. Located in the remote town of Brookings, South Dakota State is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at South Dakota State are $12,809 a year. The average amount in student loans that communications majors at South Dakota State take out is $27,000.
In addition to its great value ranking, South Dakota State is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools list.
Youngstown State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in the small city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public college with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Youngstown State University are $9,732 a year.
University of South Dakota landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. USD is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Vermillion.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at USD are $12,942 per year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from USD carry an average student debtload of $24,250. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $175.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of South Dakota
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools
Remaining Award Winners
This section represents the rest of the schools awarded a Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 683 different United States communication and media studies schools we analyzed.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools award.
Communication & Media Studies by Region
View the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools for a specific region near you.
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| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Communication & Media Studies Rankings
Communication & Media Studies Related Majors for Communications
Communication & Media Studies is one of 5 different types of programs to choose from.
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Relations & Advertising | 21,099 |
| Radio, Television & Digital Communication | 17,669 |
| Journalism | 13,552 |
| Communication & Journalism (Other) | 1,128 |
| Publishing | 336 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to UNU-WIDER from Helsinki, Finland.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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