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Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia

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2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

14 Colleges
$22,539 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$36,169 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Communication & Media Studies School for You

Communication & Media Studies is one of the most popular subjects to study in Virginia. With 2,064 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, it ranked 10th out of all the majors we track in the state.

Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. 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 Schools in Virginia ranking. Our analysis looked at 14 schools in Virginia 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.

When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. 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.

Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia

The colleges and universities below are the best value schools for communications majors pursuing a .

Top 10 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools

#1

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA
$12,638 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named James Madison University the best value school in Virginia for communication and media studies students. JMU is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Harrisonburg.

JMU undergraduate students pay an average of $12,638 in in-state tuition and fees each year. On average, communications graduates from JMU take out $21,500 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 $440.

JMU also claimed a spot on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at James Madison University

#2

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, VA
$14,174 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 14 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Tech landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the small city of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech is a public college with a very large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Virginia Tech are $14,174 a year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from Virginia Tech carry an average student debtload of $21,500. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $444, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Virginia Tech not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #3 on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia list.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Virginia Tech Report

#3

Radford University

Radford, VA
$11,542 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Radford University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia list. Radford is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Radford.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Radford are $11,542 per year. While working on their degree, communications majors at Radford accumulate an average of around $23,554 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $241.

Read More…

#4

Christopher Newport University

Newport News, VA
$14,924 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Christopher Newport University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia list. Located in the midsize city of Newport News, CNU is a public college with a small student population.

CNU undergraduate students pay an average of $14,924 in in-state tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, communications majors at CNU accumulate an average of around $24,701 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 $382.

CNU also claimed a spot on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Christopher Newport University

#5

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA
$16,160 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Liberty University is a great value for communication and media studies students. Located in the small city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Liberty University are $16,160 a year. The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Liberty University take out is $25,625. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $529.

Read More…

$15,028 Average Tuition & Fees

Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia ranking. Located in the city of Richmond, VCU is a public school with a very large student population.

VCU undergraduate students pay an average of $15,028 in in-state tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from VCU carry an average student debtload of $24,218. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $210.

Read More…

#7

Virginia State University

Petersburg, VA
$9,154 Average Tuition & Fees

Virginia State University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. Located in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State is a public school with a small student population.

Virginia State undergraduate students pay an average of $9,154 in in-state tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, communications majors at Virginia State accumulate an average of around $29,125 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $235, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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

#8

Marymount University

Arlington, VA
$35,250 Average Tuition & Fees

Marymount University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. Located in the midsize city of Arlington, Marymount is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Marymount are $35,250 per year.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Marymount University Report

$45,150 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, Randolph - Macon College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the large suburb of Ashland, Randolph - Macon is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Randolph - Macon are $45,150 per year. The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Randolph - Macon take out is $25,000. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $629.

Randolph - Macon not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia list.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Randolph - Macon College Report

#9

Regent University

Virginia Beach, VA
$18,820 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, Regent University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. Regent is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Virginia Beach.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Regent are $18,820 a year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from Regent carry an average student debtload of $24,338. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $239.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Regent University Report

Best Value Communication & Media Studies Colleges in the Southeast Region

Explore all the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Colleges in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Georgia 795
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

One of 5 majors within the area of study, communication and media studies has other similar majors worth exploring.

Majors Similar to Communications

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 14 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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