2026 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Associate’s Degree Schools

1

Moorpark College
Moorpark, CA

Moorpark College earned the #1 spot for value among communication & media studies schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

2

Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, CA

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Orange Coast College earned it the #2 place for communication & media studies. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,392, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $8,978. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

3

Nassau Community College
Garden City, NY

Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Nassau Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,330 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,130. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $29,016. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

4

Gavilan College
Gilroy, CA

Gavilan College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the rural area of Gilroy, Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,508, compared with $12,249 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $5,939 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $28,496. That is a strong return on a $5,939 median debt.

5

Foothill College
Los Altos Hills, CA

Foothill College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Foothill College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,565, while out-of-state students pay about $12,590. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $11,595. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Foothill College generally make around $94,152. Set against $11,595 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

6

Chabot College
Hayward, CA

Chabot College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Chabot College is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. In-state tuition and fees average $1,150, compared with $8,686 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $14,122 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Chabot College generally make around $85,175. Set against $14,122 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

7

Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College
New York, NY

Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College came in at #7 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,170 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,050 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $8,643 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $26,437. Set against $8,643 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

8

Long Beach City College
Long Beach, CA

Long Beach City College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,556, with out-of-state students paying around $12,544. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Median earnings reach $38,870 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

9

Sierra College
Rocklin, CA

Sierra College placed #9 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,446. Students borrow a median of $12,733 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Sierra College earn a median of $29,214 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,733 median debt.

10

Bunker Hill Community College
Boston, MA

Bunker Hill Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,168, compared with $11,112 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $11,893. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Bunker Hill Community College generally make around $51,782. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

11

Snow College
Ephraim, UT

Snow College earned the #11 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,338, compared with $14,288 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $10,440. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Snow College earn a median of $42,776 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

12

Fullerton College
Fullerton, CA

Fullerton College came in at #12 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, Fullerton College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,151 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,379. Median earnings reach $43,366 ten years out.

13

Union County College
Cranford, NJ

Union County College placed #13 among the best values for communication & media studies. Union County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Cranford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $9,500. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $7,350. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Union County College generally make around $21,484. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

14

Henry Ford Community College
Dearborn, MI

Henry Ford Community College earned the #14 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,568, while out-of-state students pay about $7,816. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $18,876. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Henry Ford Community College earn a median of $36,247 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

15

John Tyler Community College
Chester, VA

John Tyler Community College earned the #15 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,082, while out-of-state students pay about $11,520. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $11,262 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $36,623. Set against $11,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

16

Massasoit Community College
Brockton, MA

Massasoit Community College earned the #16 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Brockton, Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,376, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $10,894. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Massasoit Community College earn a median of $42,938 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,894 median debt.

17

Glendale Community College Glendale Ca
Glendale, CA

Glendale Community College Glendale Ca came in at #17 for value in communication & media studies this year. Glendale Community College Glendale Ca is a large public school located in the city of Glendale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,191, with out-of-state students paying around $10,935. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $19,800 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,540 ten years after entry. Set against $19,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

18

Onondaga Community College
Syracuse, NY

Onondaga Community College placed #18 among the best values for communication & media studies. Onondaga Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Syracuse. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,102, with out-of-state students paying around $11,392. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $11,833. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $35,781. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

19

San Joaquin Delta College
Stockton, CA

San Joaquin Delta College came in at #19 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $6,382. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from San Joaquin Delta College generally make around $65,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

20

Prince Georges Community College
Largo, MD

Prince Georges Community College landed the #20 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Prince Georges Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Largo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,034, compared with $8,762 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $13,949 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Prince Georges Community College generally make around $56,960. That is a strong return on a $13,949 median debt.

21

Rio Hondo College
Whittier, CA

Rio Hondo College landed the #21 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Rio Hondo College is a very large public school located in the rural area of Whittier. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,388, compared with $9,884 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,510 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Rio Hondo College generally make around $95,666. Set against $15,510 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

22

College Of The Desert
Palm Desert, CA

College Of The Desert ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. College Of The Desert is a large public school located in the city of Palm Desert. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,326, with out-of-state students paying around $10,174. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $7,826. Communication & Media Studies graduates of College Of The Desert earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. Set against $7,826 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

23

Community College Of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA

Community College Of Philadelphia came in at #23 for value in communication & media studies this year. Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $4,632 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,744. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Community College Of Philadelphia generally make around $24,794. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt.

24

College Of Marin
Kentfield, CA

College Of Marin landed the #24 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Kentfield, College Of Marin is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,558, compared with $9,334 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $22,125. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $98,893. Set against $22,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

25

Full Sail University
Winter Park, FL

Full Sail University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Winter Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,906. Students borrow a median of $33,960 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $29,504. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.