2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Communication & Media Studies School for You
With 66,787 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, communication and media studies is the #10 most popular major in the United States.
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
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 Southeast Region ranking. This report analyzed 145 schools in the Southeast 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. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast 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
Our 2023 rankings named University of North Carolina at Pembroke the best value school in the Southeast Region for communication and media studies students. Located in the distant town of Pembroke, UNC Pembroke is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNC Pembroke are $7,495 per year. On average, communications graduates from UNC Pembroke take out $27,000 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 $127.
Out of the 145 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Florida State College at Jacksonville landed the # 2 spot on the list. FSCJ is a very large public school located in the large city of Jacksonville.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at FSCJ are $9,631 per year.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Florida State College at Jacksonville Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Western Carolina University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. WCU is a fairly large public school located in the town of Cullowhee.
WCU undergraduate students pay an average of $8,367 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that communications majors at WCU take out is $23,250. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $166.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Western Carolina University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Liberty University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Liberty University are $16,160 a year. Communications majors at Liberty University take out an average of $25,625 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $529.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Nicholls State University is a great value for communication and media studies students. Located in the city of Thibodaux, Nicholls State University is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Nicholls State University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,039 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, communications majors at Nicholls State University accumulate an average of around $24,229 in student debt.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Nicholls State University Report
With a ranking of #6, Arkansas State University - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the city of Jonesboro, A-State is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at A-State are $12,698 a year. While working on their degree, communications majors at A-State accumulate an average of around $23,625 in student debt.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Arkansas State University - Main Campus Report
University of North Georgia came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. UNG is a large public school located in the distant town of Dahlonega.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNG are $16,014 per year. While working on their degree, communications majors at UNG accumulate an average of around $21,923 in student debt.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UNG also is in the top 10% of our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of North Georgia Report
Appalachian State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the distant town of Boone, Appalachian State is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Appalachian State are $23,017 per year. While working on their degree, communications majors at Appalachian State accumulate an average of around $22,931 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $150, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
In addition to its great value ranking, Appalachian State is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Appalachian State University Report
University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #9 on the list. USF Tampa is a fairly large public school located in the city of Tampa.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at USF Tampa are $17,324 per year. While working on their degree, communications majors at USF Tampa accumulate an average of around $22,007 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $181.
USF Tampa also claimed a spot on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of South Florida - Main Campus Report
Mississippi University for Women came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. MUW is a small public school located in the town of Columbus.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MUW are $7,756 per year.
With a ranking of #11, Jackson State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the medium-sized city of Jackson, Jackson State is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Jackson State are $9,445 per year. While working on their degree, communications majors at Jackson State accumulate an average of around $32,482 in student debt.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Jackson State University
East Carolina University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the small city of Greenville, ECU is a public college with a fairly large student population.
ECU undergraduate students pay an average of $23,574 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that communications majors at ECU take out is $24,673. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $298, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, ECU also is in the top 15% of our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.
Full Communication & Media Studies at East Carolina University Report
University of Memphis landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. Located in the city of Memphis, UofM is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UofM are $14,088 a year. Communications majors at UofM take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Memphis Report
University of Southern Mississippi landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. Located in the city of Hattiesburg, Southern Miss is a public school with a large student population.
Southern Miss undergraduate students pay an average of $11,204 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Southern Mississippi Report
James Madison University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. JMU is a very large public school located in the small city of Harrisonburg.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at JMU are $29,564 a year. While working on their degree, communications majors at JMU accumulate an average of around $21,500 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $440, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, JMU also is in the top 5% of our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.
Full Communication & Media Studies at James Madison University Report
Mississippi College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #16 on the list. MC is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Clinton.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at MC are $20,364 a year. While working on their degree, communications majors at MC accumulate an average of around $25,500 in student debt.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 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. UNC Charlotte is a very large public school located in the large city of Charlotte.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNC Charlotte are $20,622 per year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from UNC Charlotte carry an average student debtload of $25,000. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $177.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UNC Charlotte also did well on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
With a ranking of #18, Queens University of Charlotte did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the city of Charlotte, Queens is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Queens are $38,726 a year. On average, communications graduates from Queens take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Queens University of Charlotte
University of North Florida came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. UNF is a large public school located in the city of Jacksonville.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNF are $19,407 per year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from UNF carry an average student debtload of $17,750. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $107, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of North Florida
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Louisiana State University is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Baton Rouge.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Louisiana State University are $28,635 per year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from Louisiana State University carry an average student debtload of $21,500. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $296, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Louisiana State University excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region list.
Florida International University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the large suburb of Miami, FIU is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at FIU are $18,963 per year. On average, communications graduates from FIU take out $17,959 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $59.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Florida International University Report
Honorable Mentions
Here are some additional great value schools for Communication & Media Studies students in the Southeast Region seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Southeast Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Christopher Newport University | Newport News, VA |
| 23 | Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights, KY |
| 24 | University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR |
| 25 | University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR |
| 26 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL |
| 27 | University of Georgia | Athens, GA |
| 27 | Virginia Tech | Blacksburg, VA |
| 29 | Columbus State University | Columbus, GA |
Best Communication & Media Studies Colleges by State
Explore the best communication and media studies schools for a specific state in the Southeast region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Georgia | 795 |
| Virginia | 2,064 |
| North Carolina | 2,972 |
| Florida | 3,020 |
| Tennessee | 1,000 |
| Kentucky | 787 |
| South Carolina | 796 |
| Louisiana | 815 |
| Arkansas | 457 |
| Alabama | 968 |
| Mississippi | 307 |
| West Virginia | 214 |
More Communication & Media Studies Rankings in the Southeast Region
Majors Related to Communications
One of 5 majors within the area of study, communication and media studies has other similar majors worth exploring.
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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