2026 Best Value Communications Schools in New York
[Communications](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communications/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 32 schools to find the best return on investment for communications students.
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2026 Best Value Communications Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communications, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Communications Schools
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earned the #1 spot for value among communications schools in New York. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,464, while out-of-state students pay about $15,414. Students borrow a median of $7,892 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $36,367. That is a strong return on a $7,892 median debt. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College admits about 48% of applicants.
Cuny Brooklyn College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communications, landing the #2 spot this year. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,452, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Communications graduates carry a median of $11,750 in student loans. Communications graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $40,843 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,750 median debt. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communications will find it at Cuny City College, which ranked #3. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $15,827. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $42,734. Set against $15,827 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Cuny College Of Staten Island is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communications, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Stony Brook University one of the best values for communications. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $20,537. Communications graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. Set against $20,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Potsdam ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value communications schools. Located in the town of Potsdam, Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,768 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,678. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $26,001. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Suny College At Potsdam generally make around $34,933. That is a strong return on a $26,001 median debt. Suny College At Potsdam admits about 78% of applicants.
Mercy College placed #7 among the best values for communications. Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry. In-state tuition and fees average $22,880. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Mercy College generally make around $31,079. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Purchase College landed the #8 spot for communications value this year. Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Purchase. Students from in state pay about $9,016 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,266. Communications graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Communications graduates of Suny At Purchase College earn a median of $31,881 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Suny College At Cortland earned the #9 position for value in communications this year. Located in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,874, compared with $18,784 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,874 to complete the communications program here. Communications graduates of Suny College At Cortland earn a median of $34,683 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,874 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
St Francis College placed #10 among the best values for communications. St Francis College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $28,775 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $26,125. Communications graduates of St Francis College earn a median of $23,811 early in their careers. Set against $26,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Utica College earned the #11 position for value in communications this year. Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Utica. In-state tuition and fees average $26,930. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Utica College generally make around $23,890. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Manhattan College came in at #12 for value in communications this year. Located in the city of Riverdale, Manhattan College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,400. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communications program here. Communications graduates of Manhattan College earn a median of $61,065 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
St Johns University New York ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value communications schools. Set in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,529. Communications graduates carry a median of $26,350 in student loans. Early-career communications graduates make about $27,234. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Saint John Fisher College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value communications schools. Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,190. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $23,328. Communications graduates of Saint John Fisher College earn a median of $30,233 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Cornell University earned the #15 position for value in communications this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $14,418. Early-career communications graduates make about $62,182. Set against $14,418 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
Marymount Manhattan College placed #16 among the best values for communications. Set in the city of New York, Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,870. Communications graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Communications graduates of Marymount Manhattan College earn a median of $24,962 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Marymount Manhattan College admits about 83% of applicants.
Marist College placed #17 among the best values for communications. Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. In-state tuition and fees average $47,620. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Marist College generally make around $41,818. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Fordham University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value communications schools. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Students from in state pay about $64,470 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,700 to complete the communications program here. Communications graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $46,405 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,700 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
More Communications Rankings
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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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
