2026 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in Maine
[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for communication & media studies students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in Maine
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & media studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
University Of Southern Maine earned the #1 spot for value among communication & media studies schools in Maine. Located in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,090 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,940 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $22,623 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Southern Maine generally make around $35,920. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Maine one of the best values for communication & media studies. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. Students from in state pay about $13,326 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,057 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $37,192. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
