[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 29 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.
The University Of Texas Pan American tops our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools in Texas. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $11,956 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $26,748 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Houston earned it the #2 place for communication & media studies. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,777 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $37,958. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Midwestern State University, which ranked #3. Midwestern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wichita Falls. Students from in state pay about $9,950 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,770. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Midwestern State University generally make around $25,728. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At Tyler earned it the #4 place for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,512 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,512. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $15,021 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of The University Of Texas At Tyler earn a median of $27,586 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,021 median debt. The University Of Texas At Tyler admits about 94% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stephen F Austin State University earned it the #5 place for communication & media studies. Located in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,128 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,968. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $45,743. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Stephen F Austin State University admits about 94% of applicants.
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi landed the #6 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Texas A And M University Corpus Christi is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. Students from in state pay about $9,748 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,794. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Texas A And M University Corpus Christi earn a median of $27,707 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Sam Houston State University landed the #7 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $19,068. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $28,247 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $43,500. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Texas Tech University earned the #9 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $40,730. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
Texas Southern University landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the city of Houston, Texas Southern University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,637 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,473. Students borrow a median of $38,783 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Texas Southern University earn a median of $33,963 early in their careers. Set against $38,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Southern University admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of The Incarnate Word placed #11 among the best values for communication & media studies. University Of The Incarnate Word is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,090. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of The Incarnate Word generally make around $17,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Austin College came in at #12 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Sherman, Austin College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $48,121. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,264 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Austin College earn a median of $32,287 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,264 median debt. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Trinity University placed #13 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of San Antonio, Trinity University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,676. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,340. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Trinity University earn a median of $34,589 early in their careers. Set against $25,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 26% of applicants are accepted.
East Texas Baptist University landed the #14 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the town of Marshall, East Texas Baptist University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $30,680. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,137. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $44,734. Set against $25,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Christian University landed the #15 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,740. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $32,123. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 44%.
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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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
