[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for communication & media studies students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & media studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in communication & media studies, no school beat East Central University this year. Located in the town of Ada, East Central University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,032, compared with $17,842 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,571 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of East Central University earn a median of $24,638 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,571 median debt. East Central University admits about 58% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oklahoma State University Main Campus earned it the #2 place for communication & media studies. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,110, while out-of-state students pay about $25,630. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $22,337 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $50,993. Set against $22,337 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $45,009. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus admits about 77% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oral Roberts University earned it the #4 place for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Tulsa, Oral Roberts University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $35,470 in tuition and fees. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Oral Roberts University earn a median of $39,206 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Oral Roberts University admits about 99% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
