2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master's Degree Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Communication & Media Studies Master's Degree 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.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master's Degree Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 239 schools in the United States to see which master's degree 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.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality for a Master's in Communication & Media Studies
Our 2023 rankings named La Salle University the best value school in the United States for communication and media studies students working on their master’s degree. La Salle is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at La Salle are $1,455 a year.
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Out of the 239 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 large city of Chicago, Columbia is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Columbia are $2,350 per year.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Provo. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the medium-sized city of Provo, BYU is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.
BYU graduate students pay an average of $7,700 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 Master’s Degree Schools list.
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The excellent master’s degree programs at Drake University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value communication and media studies schools in the United States. Drake is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Drake are $11,988 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Drake also did well on our Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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The excellent master’s degree programs at Spring Arbor University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value communication and media studies schools in the United States. Located in the small suburb of Spring Arbor, Spring Arbor is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Spring Arbor graduate students pay an average of $8,383 in tuition and fees each year.
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University of Dubuque ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the small city of Dubuque, UD is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at UD are $7,940 per year.
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North Dakota State University - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking. North Dakota State University is a fairly large public school located in the city of Fargo.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at North Dakota State University are $12,028 per year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, North Dakota State University also is in the top 20% of our Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking.
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Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for communication and media studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State Mankato is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Minnesota State Mankato are $9,308 a year.
In addition to its great value ranking, Minnesota State Mankato is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list.
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With a ranking of #9, Fitchburg State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students working on their master’s degree. Fitchburg State is a moderately-sized public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Fitchburg.
Fitchburg State graduate students pay an average of $6,012 in tuition and fees each year.
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West Texas A&M University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A&M University is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
West Texas A&M University graduate students pay an average of $8,574 in tuition and fees each year.
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Arizona State University - Skysong ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Scottsdale, ASU - Skysong is a public school with a fairly large student population.
ASU - Skysong graduate students pay an average of $9,982 in tuition and fees each year.
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Youngstown State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the small city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Youngstown State University are $6,931 per year.
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With a ranking of #13, Illinois State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students working on their master’s degree. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the midsize suburb of Normal.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Illinois State are $11,773 a year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Illinois State also is in the top 20% of our Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking.
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Northern Illinois University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for communication and media studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #14 on the list. NIU is a fairly large public school located in the small suburb of Dekalb.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at NIU are $11,390 a year.
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University of South Dakota ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. USD is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Vermillion.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at USD are $12,768 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, USD also did well on our Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Asbury University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the town of Wilmore, Asbury is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Asbury are $9,990 per year.
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University of Delaware landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree communication and media studies programs. Located in the large suburb of Newark, UD is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at UD are $18,128 a year.
UD also claimed a spot on our Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
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With a ranking of #17, Bellarmine University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students working on their master’s degree. Located in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine U is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Bellarmine U are $13,652 a year.
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Liberty University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Liberty University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Lynchburg.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Liberty University are $8,360 per year.
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South Dakota State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the remote town of Brookings, South Dakota State is a public college with a fairly large student population.
South Dakota State graduate students pay an average of $16,917 in tuition and fees each year.
South Dakota State also claimed a spot on our Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
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University of Dayton did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for communication and media studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Dayton, UDayton is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at UDayton are $18,140 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UDayton also did well on our Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Saint Cloud State University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree communication and media studies programs. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, St. Cloud State University is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at St. Cloud State University are $13,412 per year.
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Fairfield University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Fairfield, Fairfield U is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Fairfield U are $19,498 per year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Fairfield U also did well on our Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Northeastern State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. NSU is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Tahlequah.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at NSU are $10,911 per year.
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With a ranking of #25, Grand Canyon University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students working on their master’s degree. Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit school located in the large city of Phoenix.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Grand Canyon University are $11,538 a year.
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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 Master's Degree Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Missouri State University - Springfield | Springfield, MO |
| 37 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln | Lincoln, NE |
| 38 | Webster University | Saint Louis, MO |
| 39 | University of Akron Main Campus | Akron, OH |
| 39 | Cornell University | Ithaca, NY |
| 41 | Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant, MI |
| 42 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater | Whitewater, WI |
| 43 | Purdue University Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne, IN |
| 43 | Clarion University of Pennsylvania | Clarion, PA |
| 45 | Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights, KY |
| 46 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus | Bowling Green, OH |
| 47 | Texas A&M University - College Station | College Station, TX |
| 47 | Purdue University - Main Campus | West Lafayette, IN |
Communication & Media Studies by Region
View the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| 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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