ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Communications Schools in Minnesota

5 Colleges in the United States
$26,582 Avg Student Debt
$57,003 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Communications Badge [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.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communications students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communications/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communications/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communications/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communications/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communications/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communications/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communications/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 4
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 09.01), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Communication (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Communication (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Communications (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Communications (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Media Communication (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Media Communication (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Communication (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Communication (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 3
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 3 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 3
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 2 offers with relevance >= 1.0

2026 Best Value Communications Schools in Minnesota

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communications, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Communications Schools

1

University Of Minnesota Crookston tops our 2026 list of the best value communications schools in Minnesota. 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. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $25,288. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Crookston generally make around $42,458. Set against $25,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.

2

A rank of #2 makes Saint Cloud State University one of the best values for communications. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,245 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $40,279. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Saint Cloud State University admits about 95% of applicants.

3

A rank of #3 makes Rochester Community And Technical College one of the best values for communications. Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rochester. In-state tuition and fees average $6,389. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $20,291. Communications graduates of Rochester Community And Technical College earn a median of $27,798 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

4

Minnesota State University Mankato is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communications, landing the #4 spot this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Communications graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Communications graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $39,798 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.

5

Students looking for strong value in communications will find it at Metropolitan State University, which ranked #5. Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $9,840. Students borrow a median of $34,933 to complete the communications program here. Communications graduates of Metropolitan State University earn a median of $46,320 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.

ADBLOCK #101
6
Hamline University crest
Hamline University
Saint Paul, MN

Hamline University came in at #6 for value in communications this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $50,004. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $27,000. Early-career communications graduates make about $42,201. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.

7

Concordia College At Moorhead came in at #7 for value in communications this year. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Concordia College At Moorhead is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $31,170 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the communications program here. Communications graduates of Concordia College At Moorhead earn a median of $42,431 early in their careers. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.

8
Crown College crest
Crown College
Saint Bonifacius, MN

Crown College landed the #8 spot for communications value this year. Located in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius, Crown College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,410 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,537 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Crown College generally make around $42,695. That is a strong return on a $29,537 median debt. Crown College admits about 23% of applicants.

9

Bethel University Minnesota earned the #9 position for value in communications this year. Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,226. Students borrow a median of $25,937 to complete the communications program here. Early-career communications graduates make about $40,019. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.

ADBLOCK #173
View All Communications Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

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 · 13 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options