[Other Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/other-communication-media-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong other communication & media studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for other communication & media studies students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other communication & media studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Raritan Valley Community College, our #1 best value for other communication & media studies in New Jersey. Set in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,664 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,584. Typical student debt for other communication & media studies graduates is $9,668. Early-career other communication & media studies graduates make about $47,248. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes County College Of Morris one of the best values for other communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,210, compared with $14,310 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, other communication & media studies degree recipients from County College Of Morris generally make around $15,905. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
New Jersey City University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other communication & media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Jersey City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,460. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $16,914 in student loans. Early-career other communication & media studies graduates make about $13,796. Set against $16,914 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Montclair State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other communication & media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,912, while out-of-state students pay about $26,022. Students borrow a median of $24,713 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates of Montclair State University earn a median of $42,803 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,713 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in other communication & media studies will find it at Ramapo College Of New Jersey, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Mahwah, Ramapo College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,777, with out-of-state students paying around $27,708. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates of Ramapo College Of New Jersey earn a median of $31,966 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Rowan University placed #6 among the best values for other communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,574, compared with $26,932 for out-of-state students. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $34,549 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Drew University placed #7 among the best values for other communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Madison, Drew University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,100. Students borrow a median of $26,449 to complete the other communication & media studies program here. Other Communication & Media Studies graduates of Drew University earn a median of $34,305 early in their careers. Set against $26,449 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
More Other Communication & Media Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
