[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for communication & media studies students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & media studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is University Of Arkansas Fort Smith, our #1 best value for communication & media studies in Arkansas. Located in the city of Fort Smith, University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,334 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,182. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Arkansas Fort Smith earn a median of $28,951 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Southeast Arkansas College, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Pine Bluff, Southeast Arkansas College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,200 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,650. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $12,008 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Southeast Arkansas College generally make around $30,715. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arkansas State University Main Campus earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,090 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,522. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Arkansas State University Main Campus earn a median of $40,192 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arkansas State University Main Campus admits about 82% of applicants.
Arkansas Tech University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,674, while out-of-state students pay about $14,668. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Arkansas Tech University earn a median of $30,927 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Arkansas At Little Rock earned it the #5 place for communication & media studies. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public school located in the city of Little Rock. Students from in state pay about $9,911 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,721. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $23,717. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Arkansas At Little Rock generally make around $33,417. Set against $23,717 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 59%.
University Of Arkansas ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, compared with $29,966 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $21,165. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $40,095. That is a strong return on a $21,165 median debt. University Of Arkansas admits about 74% of applicants.
Ouachita Baptist University came in at #7 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Arkadelphia, Ouachita Baptist University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,500. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $23,521. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Ouachita Baptist University generally make around $34,574. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ouachita Baptist University admits about 68% of applicants.
More Communication & Media Studies Rankings
View All Communication & Media Studies Rankings >
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 · 16 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.
