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Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

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2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

142 Colleges
$17,012 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$32,771 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Communication & Media Studies School for You

In 2020-2021, 66,787 communication and media studies students received a degree or certificate, 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. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This report analyzed 142 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region to see which ones offered the best value programs for communications students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

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.

2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

Check out the communications programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.

Top 15% Best Communication & Media Studies Schools

#1

La Salle University

Philadelphia, PA
$33,150 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named La Salle University the best value school in the Middle Atlantic Region for communication and media studies students. La Salle is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia.

La Salle undergraduate students pay an average of $33,150 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, communications majors at La Salle accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $459.

Full Communication & Media Studies at La Salle University Report

#2

LaGuardia Community College

Long Island City, NY
$8,098 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent programs at LaGuardia Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best communication and media studies schools in the Middle Atlantic Region . Located in the large city of Long Island City, LaGuardia is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at LaGuardia are $8,098 a year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from LaGuardia carry an average student debtload of $6,461.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at LaGuardia Community College

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means University of Maryland Global Campus is a great value for communication and media studies students. 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. Communications majors at UMGC take out an average of $26,897 in student loans while working on their egree.

UMGC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Maryland Global Campus

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means The Graduate Center, CUNY is a great value for communication and media studies students. Located in the large city of New York, The Graduate Center is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at The Graduate Center are $15,360 per year. On average, communications graduates from The Graduate Center take out $19,937 in student loans while working on their degree.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, The Graduate Center also is in the top 10% of our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking.

Full Communication & Media Studies at The Graduate Center, CUNY Report

$8,050 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 142 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Borough of Manhattan Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the large city of New York, BMCC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BMCC are $8,050 per year. The average amount in student loans that communications majors at BMCC take out is $8,821.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Borough of Manhattan Community College

#6

Wilmington University

New Castle, DE
$11,760 Average Tuition & Fees

Wilmington University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Wilmington University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the 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

$15,170 Average Tuition & Fees

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in the fringe town of Kutztown, Kutztown University is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Kutztown University undergraduate students pay an average of $15,170 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from Kutztown University carry an average student debtload of $26,000. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $338.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Report

#8

Nassau Community College

Garden City, NY
$12,130 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #8, Nassau Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the large suburb of Garden City.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Nassau Community College are $12,130 a year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from Nassau Community College carry an average student debtload of $9,300.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Nassau Community College

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the distant town of Slippery Rock, SRU is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at SRU are $14,615 a year. On average, communications graduates from SRU take out $26,243 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $349.

Read More…

$15,726 Average Tuition & Fees

California University of Pennsylvania came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in the suburb of California, Cal U is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cal U are $15,726 a year.

Read More…

$12,744 Average Tuition & Fees

Community College of Philadelphia came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Community College of Philadelphia is a public school with a large student population.

Community College of Philadelphia undergraduate students pay an average of $12,744 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Community College of Philadelphia take out is $14,125.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Community College of Philadelphia

#12

SUNY Cortland

Cortland, NY
$18,725 Average Tuition & Fees

SUNY Cortland landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. SUNY Cortland is a moderately-sized public school located in the distant town of Cortland.

SUNY Cortland undergraduate students pay an average of $18,725 in tuition and fees each year. On average, communications graduates from SUNY Cortland take out $25,000 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $200.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at SUNY Cortland

$14,122 Average Tuition & Fees

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #13 on the list. Ship is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Shippensburg.

Ship undergraduate students pay an average of $14,122 in tuition and fees each year.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Report

#14

Salisbury University

Salisbury, MD

With a ranking of #14, Salisbury University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the small suburb of Salisbury, Salisbury is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Salisbury are $20,458 per year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from Salisbury carry an average student debtload of $22,751. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $415, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, Salisbury also did well on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Salisbury University Report

$16,052 Average Tuition & Fees

Clarion University of Pennsylvania landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. Located in the town of Clarion, Clarion University is a public school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Clarion University are $16,052 a year. The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Clarion University take out is $27,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $297.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Clarion University of Pennsylvania Report

#16

Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ
$21,418 Average Tuition & Fees

Montclair State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State is a public school with a very large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Montclair State are $21,418 per year. The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Montclair State take out is $24,577. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $295, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Montclair State University

#17

Farmingdale State College

Farmingdale, NY
$18,486 Average Tuition & Fees

Farmingdale 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 #17 on the list. Located in the suburb of Farmingdale, SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale are $18,486 a year.

Read More…

#18

SUNY Geneseo

Geneseo, NY
$18,837 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #18, SUNY Geneseo did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. SUNY Geneseo is a small public school located in the distant town of Geneseo.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SUNY Geneseo are $18,837 per year. The average amount in student loans that communications majors at SUNY Geneseo take out is $25,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $297.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at SUNY Geneseo

#19

SUNY Oneonta

Oneonta, NY
$18,696 Average Tuition & Fees

SUNY Oneonta did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #19 on the list. SUNY Oneonta is a moderately-sized public school located in the remote town of Oneonta.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SUNY Oneonta are $18,696 per year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from SUNY Oneonta carry an average student debtload of $24,569. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $210, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#20

Baruch College

New York, NY
$15,414 Average Tuition & Fees

Baruch College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Baruch is a fairly large public school located in the large city of New York.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Baruch are $15,414 a year. While working on their degree, communications majors at Baruch accumulate an average of around $11,187 in student debt.

Read More…

$13,248 Average Tuition & Fees

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in the distant town of Mansfield, Mansfield University is a public college with a small student population.

Mansfield University undergraduate students pay an average of $13,248 in tuition and fees each year. Communications majors at Mansfield University take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

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 in the Middle Atlantic Region award.

Rank College Location
22 Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah, NJ
23 Towson University Towson, MD
24 The College of New Jersey Ewing, NJ
25 The College at Brockport Brockport, NY
26 University of Delaware Newark, DE
27 East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg, PA
28 College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, NY
28 The City College of New York New York, NY

Best Communication & Media Studies Colleges by State

Explore the best communication and media studies schools for a specific state in the Middle Atlantic region.

State Degrees Awarded
Pennsylvania 2,218
New York 4,480
Maryland 1,274
New Jersey 1,539
District of Columbia 200
Delaware 239

Communication & Media Studies is one of 5 different types of programs to choose from.

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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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