[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communication-and-media-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong communication & media studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communication & media studies students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the communication & media studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in communication & media studies, no school beat Cuny Hunter College this year. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $11,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $29,054. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Cuny Brooklyn College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,402 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,750 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $27,262. Set against $11,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Cuny Queens College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,538, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. Students borrow a median of $9,875 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $31,918. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny Lehman College one of the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,410, while out-of-state students pay about $15,360. Students borrow a median of $14,623 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $32,484 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,623 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,170, while out-of-state students pay about $8,050. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $8,643 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College generally make around $26,437. Set against $8,643 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Nassau Community College placed #6 among the best values for communication & media studies. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. In-state tuition and fees average $6,330, while out-of-state students pay about $12,130. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $29,016 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny College At Oswego ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,825, compared with $18,735 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,163. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Suny College At Oswego earn a median of $41,899 early in their careers. Set against $25,163 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Onondaga Community College came in at #8 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,102, compared with $11,392 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $11,833. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Onondaga Community College earn a median of $35,781 early in their careers. Set against $11,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stony Brook University landed the #9 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. Set against $20,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
State University Of New York At New Paltz landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,572 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,822 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of State University Of New York At New Paltz earn a median of $29,860 early in their careers. Set against $22,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Oneonta came in at #11 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,831, compared with $19,781 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Suny College At Oneonta generally make around $27,973. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Suny College At Oneonta admits about 70% of applicants.
University At Buffalo placed #12 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $22,251 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $39,226. That is a strong return on a $22,251 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Suny At Purchase College came in at #13 for value in communication & media studies this year. Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Purchase. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,016, with out-of-state students paying around $19,266. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Suny At Purchase College generally make around $31,881. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Iona College earned the #14 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Iona College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of New Rochelle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,260. Students borrow a median of $26,954 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $29,911. That is a strong return on a $26,954 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Pace University New York ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,510. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $35,992. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Hobart William Smith Colleges earned the #16 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Geneva, Hobart William Smith Colleges is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,928. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Hobart William Smith Colleges earn a median of $50,750 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Clarkson University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of Potsdam, Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,398. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,566. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $41,745. That is a strong return on a $26,566 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Hofstra University came in at #18 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $57,660. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $39,782. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Hofstra University admits about 68% of applicants.
Marymount Manhattan College landed the #19 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the city of New York, Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $41,870 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Marymount Manhattan College earn a median of $24,962 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Marymount Manhattan College admits about 83% of applicants.
Lim College came in at #20 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of New York, Lim College is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $33,504 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,827 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $38,305. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Vassar College earned the #21 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,030. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Vassar College earn a median of $23,270 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
Marist College earned the #22 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,620 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Marist College earn a median of $41,818 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Syracuse University landed the #23 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $36,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
The New School placed #24 among the best values for communication & media studies. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $58,730 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $23,241. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from The New School generally make around $31,782. That is a strong return on a $23,241 median debt. The New School admits about 64% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked 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 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
