[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 9 schools to find the best return on investment for communication & media studies students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the communication & media studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of New Hampshire At Manchester, our #1 best value for communication & media studies in New Hampshire. Located in the city of Manchester, University Of New Hampshire At Manchester is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,838, with out-of-state students paying around $36,418. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of New Hampshire At Manchester earn a median of $43,551 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Hampshire At Manchester admits about 81% of applicants.
Keene State College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the town of Keene, Keene State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,784 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,840. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Keene State College generally make around $34,372. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Keene State College admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Plymouth State University earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. Located in the town of Plymouth, Plymouth State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $14,626 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,566 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $31,293. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Nhti Concords Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Nhti Concords Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Concord. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,200, while out-of-state students pay about $15,450. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $18,046 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Nhti Concords Community College generally make around $50,550. That is a strong return on a $18,046 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes University Of New Hampshire Main Campus one of the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $19,202, compared with $39,852 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earn a median of $43,551 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Saint Anselm College placed #6 among the best values for communication & media studies. Saint Anselm College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Manchester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,920. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $43,819. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Anselm College admits about 78% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 6 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.
