[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communication-and-media-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value communication & media studies schools.
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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.
Leading the list is The University Of Tennessee Martin, our #1 best value for communication & media studies in Tennessee. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,560, compared with $16,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,481. Communication & Media Studies graduates of The University Of Tennessee Martin earn a median of $26,803 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Middle Tennessee State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,329 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $29,877. That is a strong return on a $24,329 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Memphis earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,381 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $26,922 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,381 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Austin Peay State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,006, with out-of-state students paying around $14,766. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $34,582. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
East Tennessee State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,216, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $23,250. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $33,111. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #6 position for value in communication & media studies this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Students borrow a median of $20,875 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $41,258. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Carson Newman College placed #7 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Jefferson City, Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,700. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,235. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $48,797. Set against $20,235 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Belmont University placed #8 among the best values for communication & media studies. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $42,540. Students borrow a median of $22,125 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $41,889. That is a strong return on a $22,125 median debt. Belmont University admits about 95% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
