by our College Data Analytics Team
[Communications](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communications/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 438 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communications students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the communications degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in communications, no school beat Cuny City College this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $15,827. Early-career communications graduates make about $42,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value communications schools. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,464, while out-of-state students pay about $15,414. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $7,892. Communications graduates of Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of $36,367 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Cuny Brooklyn College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communications, landing the #3 spot this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Communications graduates carry a median of $11,750 in student loans. Early-career communications graduates make about $40,843. Set against $11,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny College Of Staten Island came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value communications schools. Set in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,490, while out-of-state students pay about $15,440. Communications graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans. Early-career communications graduates make about $29,702. Set against $13,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny College Of Staten Island admits about 92% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communications will find it at Brigham Young University Idaho, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $13,207. Communications graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $36,941 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
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University Of North Florida came in at #6 for value in communications this year. University Of North Florida is a large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,964, with out-of-state students paying around $19,407. Students borrow a median of $17,345 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $36,842. Set against $17,345 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Florida admits about 53% of applicants.
University Of California San Diego landed the #7 spot for communications value this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $14,568. Communications graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $33,046 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,568 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #8 among the best values for communications. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Communications graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans. Early-career communications graduates make about $38,912. That is a strong return on a $20,750 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
The University Of Texas Pan American landed the #9 spot for communications value this year. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Students borrow a median of $11,956 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $46,404. Set against $11,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
New Mexico State University Main Campus came in at #10 for value in communications this year. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,183, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Students borrow a median of $19,026 to complete the communications program here. Early-career communications graduates make about $41,860. That is a strong return on a $19,026 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Texas A And M International University came in at #11 for value in communications this year. Set in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,894, with out-of-state students paying around $19,454. Students borrow a median of $17,100 to complete the communications program here. Early-career communications graduates make about $22,430. That is a strong return on a $17,100 median debt. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston Victoria earned the #12 position for value in communications this year. University Of Houston Victoria is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Victoria. Students from in state pay about $7,149 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,941. Communications graduates carry a median of $20,625 in student loans. Early-career communications graduates make about $47,345. Set against $20,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Houston Victoria admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Springfield ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value communications schools. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,557, with out-of-state students paying around $20,139. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $24,322. Early-career communications graduates make about $32,050. Set against $24,322 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Springfield admits about 86% of applicants.
Latter Day Saints Business College landed the #14 spot for communications value this year. Latter Day Saints Business College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Salt Lake City. In-state tuition and fees average $4,004. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,630 ten years after entry.
University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #15 position for value in communications this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,444 in tuition and fees, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,018 to complete the communications program here. Early-career communications graduates make about $46,598. That is a strong return on a $13,018 median debt. University Of California Santa Barbara admits about 33% of applicants.
University Of Utah came in at #16 for value in communications this year. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,620, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Communications graduates carry a median of $18,017 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $43,801. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin placed #17 among the best values for communications. Located in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,607 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Communications graduates carry a median of $22,852 in student loans. Early-career communications graduates make about $46,203. Set against $22,852 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of California Los Angeles placed #18 among the best values for communications. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Communications graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. Early-career communications graduates make about $63,833. Set against $16,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned the #19 position for value in communications this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. Communications graduates carry a median of $22,923 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $34,314. Set against $22,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston Clear Lake placed #20 among the best values for communications. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,346, with out-of-state students paying around $22,290. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $19,829. Communications graduates of University Of Houston Clear Lake earn a median of $28,566 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Houston Clear Lake admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Parkside landed the #21 spot for communications value this year. Located in the rural area of Kenosha, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,270, with out-of-state students paying around $17,429. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communications program here. Communications graduates of University Of Wisconsin Parkside earn a median of $37,107 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Utah State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value communications schools. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,560 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Communications graduates carry a median of $14,750 in student loans. Communications graduates of Utah State University earn a median of $37,574 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #23 among the best values for communications. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the communications program here. Communications graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $41,409 early in their careers. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee Martin earned the #24 position for value in communications this year. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Martin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,560, compared with $16,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,481 to complete the communications program here. Early-career communications graduates make about $26,803. Set against $24,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Minnesota Crookston placed #25 among the best values for communications. Set in the town of Crookston, University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,288. Students borrow a median of $25,288 to complete the communications program here. Early-career communications graduates make about $42,458. That is a strong return on a $25,288 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
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Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Communications rankings across degree levels:
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 · 438 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 130 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.