2026 Best Value Communication Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Communication Sciences associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 410 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Communication Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Leading the list is Lake Region State College, our #1 best-value Communication Sciences school in the United States. Located in Devils Lake, ND, Lake Region State College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,520. The median Communication Sciences program debt is $15,784. Median earnings reach $49,502 ten years out. Set against $15,784 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Lake Region State College
You'll get strong value at Granite State College, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Manchester, NH, Granite State College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,724 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,284 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,522 to complete their Communication Sciences program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $66,479 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Granite State College profile
Out of the 410 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Copiah Lincoln Community College landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in Wesson, MS. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,200. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $31,241. More on Copiah Lincoln Community College
You'll get strong value at San Joaquin Delta College, which ranked #4 this year. Set in Stockton, CA, San Joaquin Delta College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans. San Joaquin Delta College alumni report median earnings of $43,212 a decade after entry. Set against $6,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on San Joaquin Delta College
You'll get strong value at Pasadena City College, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Pasadena, CA, Pasadena City College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. The median Communication Sciences program debt is $9,191. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,937 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt. Read the full report on Pasadena City College
Santa Ana College placed #6 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. Set in Santa Ana, CA, Santa Ana College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,552. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt. Read more about Santa Ana College
American River College offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Sacramento, CA, American River College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. The median Communication Sciences program debt is $14,105. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,162. That is a strong return on a $14,105 median debt. See the full American River College profile
Orange Coast College offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Costa Mesa, CA, Orange Coast College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,392, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. The median Communication Sciences program debt is $8,978. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $47,348. That is a strong return on a $8,978 median debt. See the full Orange Coast College profile
Cerritos College offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Norwalk, CA, Cerritos College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. The median Communication Sciences program debt is $11,306. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,156 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Cerritos College
East Mississippi Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Communication Sciences schools. Based in Scooba, MS, East Mississippi Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,095, compared with $7,445 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,422 to complete their Communication Sciences program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $33,772. That is a strong return on a $9,422 median debt. More on East Mississippi Community College
University Of Cincinnati Clermont College came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a public school based in Batavia, OH. Students from in state pay about $6,639 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,871. Typical Communication Sciences student debt is $19,525. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,810. Set against $19,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on University Of Cincinnati Clermont College
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Blue Ash, OH, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,106, compared with $15,904 for out-of-state students. University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College Communication Sciences students take on a median of $19,408 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,810. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College
Southern Adventist University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Communication Sciences schools. Southern Adventist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Collegedale, TN. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,300. Typical Communication Sciences student debt is $25,498. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,723 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted. More on Southern Adventist University
College Of Our Lady Of The Elms came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicopee, MA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,325. College Of Our Lady Of The Elms Communication Sciences students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,540. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%. Read the full report on College Of Our Lady Of The Elms
Universidad Del Turabo placed #15 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. More on Universidad Del Turabo
University Of Connecticut came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Connecticut profile
California State University Dominguez Hills placed #17 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about California State University Dominguez Hills
Freed Hardeman University came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Freed Hardeman University report
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center report
Chandler Gilbert Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Communication Sciences schools. Get the full Chandler Gilbert Community College report
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Minnesota Twin Cities report
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read the full report on University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Hampton University offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. More on Hampton University
The University Of Alabama landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. More on The University Of Alabama
Wayne State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Communication Sciences schools. More on Wayne State University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Communication Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Mercy College
Mercy College came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Mercy College
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Communication Sciences schools. More on University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Communication Sciences schools. Read the full report on University Of Maryland College Park
Midwestern University Glendale offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on Midwestern University Glendale
Pacific University offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. See the full Pacific University profile
West Coast University Dallas offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Get the full West Coast University Dallas report
The University Of Texas Pan American placed #32 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. See the full The University Of Texas Pan American profile
University Of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences report
University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Communication Sciences schools. Get the full University Of South Florida Main Campus report
California State University East Bay ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Communication Sciences schools. Read more about California State University East Bay
Eastern Michigan University placed #36 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Eastern Michigan University
Saint Josephs University landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Saint Josephs University report
Old Dominion University landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Old Dominion University report
University Of Delaware placed #39 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Delaware report
Cuny Queens College offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Get the full Cuny Queens College report
Depaul University came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Depaul University
Marquette University came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Marquette University report
North Carolina A And T State University landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on North Carolina A And T State University
San Francisco State University landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full San Francisco State University report
University Of South Dakota ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Communication Sciences schools. See the full University Of South Dakota profile
Western Kentucky University offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. Get the full Western Kentucky University report
Emerson College
Emerson College offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Read more about Emerson College
Nazareth College
Nazareth College came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. More on Nazareth College
University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Adelphi University placed #50 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. More on Adelphi University
Related Communication Sciences Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Communication Sciences Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Communication Sciences Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Communication Sciences Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Communication Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Communication Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Communication Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Communication Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 410 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.