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.
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2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Check out the communications master's degree programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality for a Master's 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 master’s degree in the United States. La Salle is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia.
La Salle graduate students pay an average of $1,455 in tuition and fees each year.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Columbia College Chicago. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the large city of Chicago, Columbia is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.
Columbia graduate students pay an average of $2,350 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Columbia College Chicago
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the midsize city of Provo, BYU is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
BYU graduate students pay an average of $7,700 in tuition and fees each year.
BYU also claimed a spot on our Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Drake University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. 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 graduate students at Drake are $11,988 a year.
In addition to its great value ranking, Drake is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Drake University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Spring Arbor University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the suburb of Spring Arbor, Spring Arbor 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 Spring Arbor are $8,383 a year.
University of Dubuque landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree communication and media studies programs. 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.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Dubuque Report
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 large public school located in the midsize city of Fargo.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at North Dakota State University are $12,028 per year.
North Dakota State University also claimed a spot on our Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Full Communication & Media Studies at North Dakota State University - Main Campus Report
With a ranking of #8, Minnesota State University - Mankato 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 small city of Mankato, Minnesota State Mankato is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Minnesota State Mankato are $9,308 per year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Minnesota State Mankato also is in the top 20% of our Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Minnesota State University - Mankato
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 medium-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.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Fitchburg State University Report
West Texas A&M University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree communication and media studies programs. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A&M University is a public school 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.
Full Communication & Media Studies at West Texas A&M University Report
Arizona State University - Skysong ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the medium-sized 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.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Arizona State University - Skysong Report
Youngstown State 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 #12 on the list. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public school with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Youngstown State University are $6,931 per year.
Illinois State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the midsize suburb of Normal.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Illinois State are $11,773 per year.
Illinois State also claimed a spot on our Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Illinois State University
Northern Illinois University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. NIU is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at NIU are $11,390 per year.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Northern Illinois University Report
University of South Dakota ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. USD is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Vermillion.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at USD are $12,768 a year.
USD also claimed a spot on our Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of South Dakota Report
Asbury University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree communication and media studies programs. Located in the fringe town of Wilmore, Asbury is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Asbury are $9,990 a year.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Asbury University
University of Delaware ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the suburb of Newark, UD is a public school with a fairly large student population.
UD graduate students pay an average of $18,128 in tuition and fees each year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UD 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.
Bellarmine University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Louisville, Bellarmine U is a private not-for-profit college 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.
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.
Liberty University graduate students pay an average of $8,360 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Liberty University
With a ranking of #20, South Dakota State 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 remote town of Brookings, South Dakota State is a public school 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.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at South Dakota State University
University of Dayton ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Dayton, UDayton is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.
UDayton graduate students pay an average of $18,140 in tuition and fees each 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.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Dayton Report
Saint Cloud State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the small 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.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Saint Cloud State University
Fairfield 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 #23 on the list. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Fairfield U is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Fairfield U are $19,498 a year.
Fairfield U 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.
Northeastern State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking. NSU is a medium-sized public school located in the remote town of Tahlequah.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at NSU are $10,911 per year.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Northeastern State University Report
Grand Canyon University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Grand Canyon University is a fairly 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.
Rest of the Top Best Value Communication & Media Studies Master's Degree Schools
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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