[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 40 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value communication & media studies schools.
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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.
Our analysis ranked University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill the best value for a degree in communication & media studies in North Carolina. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $49,991. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Western Carolina University, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,630 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $18,500. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $28,996. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,661, compared with $24,012 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $30,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,239, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $24,050 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $38,234. Set against $24,050 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at University Of North Carolina At Asheville, which ranked #5. University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Asheville. In-state tuition and fees average $7,501, with out-of-state students paying around $24,849. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Asheville generally make around $27,682. That is a strong return on a $23,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
North Carolina A And T State University landed the #6 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,813, with out-of-state students paying around $20,673. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,643 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of North Carolina A And T State University earn a median of $28,985 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,643 median debt. North Carolina A And T State University admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke placed #7 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,648 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,648. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $29,663. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn a median of $26,411 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Fayetteville State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,353, with out-of-state students paying around $8,353. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $29,417. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $24,210. Set against $29,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fayetteville State University admits about 82% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #9 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,324 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $39,889. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Appalachian State University landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,579, compared with $25,212 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $38,331 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Appalachian State University admits about 90% of applicants.
East Carolina University landed the #11 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $45,745. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Davidson College landed the #12 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Davidson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,430. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $19,906. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $41,505. That is a strong return on a $19,906 median debt. Davidson College admits about 13% of applicants.
Winston Salem State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,126, while out-of-state students pay about $16,782. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,096. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Winston Salem State University generally make around $24,899. Set against $27,096 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
North Carolina Central University landed the #14 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,699, compared with $19,735 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,662 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from North Carolina Central University generally make around $25,750. Set against $29,662 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earned the #15 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,277 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $36,695. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Catawba College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Catawba College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,300 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $32,323. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Johnson C Smith University earned the #17 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Johnson C Smith University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charlotte. In-state tuition and fees average $21,300. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Johnson C Smith University earn a median of $26,090 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Campbell University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Buies Creek. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,600. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,641 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Campbell University generally make around $54,629. Set against $23,641 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Gardner Webb University placed #19 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,750. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,033. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Gardner Webb University earn a median of $63,220 early in their careers. Set against $25,033 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Wake Forest University placed #20 among the best values for communication & media studies. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Students from in state pay about $67,642 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $42,055 early in their careers. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
Queens University Of Charlotte came in at #21 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Queens University Of Charlotte is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,846 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $42,489. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
High Point University placed #22 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,312 in tuition and fees. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,785 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of High Point University earn a median of $113,352 early in their careers. Set against $23,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Elon University placed #23 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,958. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $23,250. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Elon University earn a median of $48,637 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
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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 · 40 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
