[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 5 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.
South Dakota State University earned the #1 spot for value among communication & media studies schools in South Dakota. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,500. Communication & Media Studies graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $39,173 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
University Of South Dakota came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. University Of South Dakota is a large public school located in the town of Vermillion. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,432, while out-of-state students pay about $12,942. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of South Dakota earn a median of $35,792 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of South Dakota admits about 99% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Sioux Falls one of the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, University Of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,750 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,103 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $46,956. That is a strong return on a $26,103 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
