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2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

248 Colleges
$24,262 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$34,115 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Communication & Media Studies School for You

Communication & Media Studies is the #47 most popular major in the country with 5,059 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Grad Degree Search has created its Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 248 schools in the United States 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.

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 United States

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

Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Communication & Media Studies

#1

La Salle University

Philadelphia, PA
$33,150 Average Tuition & Fees

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

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at La Salle are $33,150 per year.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at La Salle University

$27,786 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 248 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia College Chicago landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Chicago, Columbia is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Columbia are $27,786 per year.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Columbia College Chicago Report

The excellent programs at Brigham Young University - Provo helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best communication and media studies schools in the United States. Located in the city of Provo, BYU is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at BYU are $6,120 a year.

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

Full Communication & Media Studies at Brigham Young University - Provo Report

#4

Drake University

Des Moines, IA

Out of the 248 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Drake University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Drake is a small private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Des Moines.

Drake undergraduate students pay an average of $45,912 in tuition and fees each year.

In addition to its great value ranking, Drake is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools list.

Read More…

#5

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, MI
$31,080 Average Tuition & Fees

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 Schools list. Located in the small suburb of Spring Arbor, Spring Arbor is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Spring Arbor are $31,080 a year.

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#6

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, IA
$36,010 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Dubuque ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools list. Located in the small city of Dubuque, UD is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UD are $36,010 a year.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Dubuque

North Dakota State University - Main Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools list. North Dakota State University is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Fargo.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at North Dakota State University are $14,876 a year.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, North Dakota State University also is in the top 15% of our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking.

Full Communication & Media Studies at North Dakota State University - Main Campus Report

Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the small city of Mankato, Minnesota State Mankato is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Minnesota State Mankato are $18,200 a year.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Minnesota State Mankato also is in the top 15% of our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking.

Read More…

#9

Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, MA
$16,735 Average Tuition & Fees

Fitchburg State University 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. Fitchburg State is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Fitchburg State are $16,735 a year.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Fitchburg State University Report

$11,208 Average Tuition & Fees

West Texas A&M University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A&M University is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

West Texas A&M University undergraduate students pay an average of $11,208 in tuition and fees each year.

Full Communication & Media Studies at West Texas A&M University Report

$13,092 Average Tuition & Fees

Arizona State University - Skysong came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking. Located in the city of Scottsdale, ASU - Skysong is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at ASU - Skysong are $13,092 a year.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Arizona State University - Skysong Report

#12

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, OH
$9,732 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #12, Youngstown State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public school with a large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Youngstown State University are $9,732 a year.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Youngstown State University Report

Illinois State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Normal.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Illinois State are $24,172 a year.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Illinois State also is in the top 20% of our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking.

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

$14,738 Average Tuition & Fees

Northern Illinois University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. NIU is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NIU are $14,738 per year.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Northern Illinois University

#15

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA
$16,160 Average Tuition & Fees

Liberty University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools list. Liberty University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Liberty University are $16,160 a year.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Liberty University

#16

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD

University of South Dakota 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. USD is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Vermillion.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at USD are $12,942 a year.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of South Dakota

#17

Asbury University

Wilmore, KY
$32,652 Average Tuition & Fees

Asbury University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools list. Located in the fringe town of Wilmore, Asbury 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 Asbury are $32,652 a year.

Read More…

#18

University of Delaware

Newark, DE

University of Delaware came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Newark, UD is a public college with a very large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UD are $36,880 per year.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UD also is in the top 15% of our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking.

Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Delaware Report

#18

Bellarmine University

Louisville, KY
$44,620 Average Tuition & Fees

Bellarmine University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools list. Located in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine U 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 Bellarmine U are $44,620 a year.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Bellarmine University

South Dakota State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State is a public school with a fairly large student population.

South Dakota State undergraduate students pay an average of $12,809 in tuition and fees each year.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, South Dakota State also did well on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Read More…

#21

University of Dayton

Dayton, OH

With a ranking of #21, University of Dayton did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the medium-sized city of Dayton, UDayton is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UDayton are $44,890 a year.

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

Read More…

#21

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, MO
$18,640 Average Tuition & Fees

Lindenwood University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Lindenwood University are $18,640 a year.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Lindenwood University Report

#23

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN

Saint Cloud State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Saint Cloud, St. Cloud State University is a public college with a large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at St. Cloud State University are $18,010 a year.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Saint Cloud State University Report

#24

Fairfield University

Fairfield, CT

Fairfield University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Fairfield, Fairfield U is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Fairfield U are $52,870 per year.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, Fairfield U also did well on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Fairfield University Report

$15,755 Average Tuition & Fees

Northeastern State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools ranking. NSU is a medium-sized public school located in the remote town of Tahlequah.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at NSU are $15,755 a year.

Read More…

Rest of the Top Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools

#26

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ
#27

Westminster College Utah

Salt Lake City, UT
#29

Villanova University

Villanova, PA
#30

Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ
#33

Lasell University

Newton, MA
#37

Marist College

Poughkeepsie, NY

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 award.

Rank College Location
38 Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MO
39 Webster University Saint Louis, MO
40 Walden University Minneapolis, MN
41 Cornell University Ithaca, NY
42 Clarion University of Pennsylvania Clarion, PA
43 University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH
43 University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI
45 Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI
46 Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX
47 University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WI
48 University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
49 Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN

Communication & Media Studies by Region

View the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

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

Related Major Annual Graduates
Public Relations & Advertising 2,828
Radio, Television & Digital Communication 2,562
Journalism 1,238
Communication & Journalism (Other) 341
Publishing 214

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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