[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 61 schools to find the best return on investment for communication & media studies students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the communication & media studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Sinclair Community College the best value for a degree in communication & media studies in Ohio. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $11,944. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $32,284. That is a strong return on a $11,944 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Blue Ash, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,106, compared with $15,904 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $17,922 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earn a median of $38,767 early in their careers. Set against $17,922 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Akron Main Campus one of the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Students borrow a median of $25,347 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $49,045. That is a strong return on a $25,347 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio State University Main Campus earned it the #4 place for communication & media studies. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $23,500. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $41,232 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $33,171 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Cleveland State University came in at #6 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,982 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Students borrow a median of $27,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $29,618. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Toledo placed #7 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,157, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $30,591. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #8 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $35,804 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #9 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,063 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $36,666 early in their careers. Set against $24,063 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,449 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $53,846. Set against $25,449 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Ohio Wesleyan University came in at #11 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Delaware, Ohio Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,248. Students borrow a median of $26,868 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Ohio Wesleyan University earn a median of $31,531 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,868 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University came in at #12 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,193. Students borrow a median of $26,602 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Mount Vernon Nazarene University generally make around $53,377. Set against $26,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #13 spot for communication & media studies value this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $20,869 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $39,953. That is a strong return on a $20,869 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Ashland University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the town of Ashland, Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,210. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $2,625 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Ashland University earn a median of $25,465 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville placed #15 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Steubenville, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,100. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,953 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Franciscan University Of Steubenville earn a median of $33,991 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Franciscan University Of Steubenville admits about 58% of applicants.
Cedarville University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,150 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,110 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Cedarville University earn a median of $57,104 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
The College Of Wooster came in at #17 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Wooster, The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,640. Students borrow a median of $22,681 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of The College Of Wooster earn a median of $39,527 early in their careers. Set against $22,681 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The College Of Wooster admits about 60% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $34,959 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Baldwin Wallace College placed #19 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,832. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Baldwin Wallace College earn a median of $29,501 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
John Carroll University placed #20 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of University Heights, John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,500. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from John Carroll University generally make around $41,072. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Dayton earned the #21 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $49,140 in tuition and fees. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,375 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $42,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Xavier University placed #22 among the best values for communication & media studies. Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,425. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,825 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Xavier University earn a median of $39,771 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Denison University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,000. Students borrow a median of $25,187 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Denison University earn a median of $47,396 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
More Communication & Media Studies Rankings
View All Communication & Media Studies Rankings >
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 · 61 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
