[Communication & Media Studies](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 26 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 South Carolina Aiken the best value for a degree in communication & media studies in South Carolina. Located in the suburb of Aiken, University Of South Carolina Aiken is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,760, while out-of-state students pay about $21,218. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $34,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Coastal Carolina University, which ranked #2. Coastal Carolina University is a large public school located in the city of Conway. In-state tuition and fees average $11,640, compared with $29,628 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Coastal Carolina University earn a median of $29,821 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at University Of South Carolina Upstate, which ranked #3. University Of South Carolina Upstate is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Spartanburg. Students from in state pay about $11,588 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,090 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 South Carolina Upstate earn a median of $34,456 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Lander University, which ranked #4. Lander University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,700, compared with $21,300 for out-of-state students. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Lander University generally make around $25,271. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Winthrop University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rock Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,678, with out-of-state students paying around $28,676. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Winthrop University generally make around $35,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Winthrop University admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of South Carolina Beaufort landed the #6 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the town of Bluffton, University Of South Carolina Beaufort is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,730, compared with $21,776 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of South Carolina Beaufort earn a median of $28,017 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Carolina Beaufort admits about 72% of applicants.
College Of Charleston ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,978, with out-of-state students paying around $38,296. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $23,250. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $36,903. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. College Of Charleston admits about 60% of applicants.
Benedict College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Columbia, Benedict College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $17,748 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $37,311. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Benedict College generally make around $25,769. That is a strong return on a $37,311 median debt. Benedict College admits about 96% of applicants.
Bob Jones University landed the #9 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $22,892 in tuition and fees. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $20,497 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Bob Jones University generally make around $40,538. That is a strong return on a $20,497 median debt.
Claflin University landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the town of Orangeburg, Claflin University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,046. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $31,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Claflin University earn a median of $23,156 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Clemson University came in at #11 for value in communication & media studies this year. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $53,834 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Charleston Southern University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Charleston, Charleston Southern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,520. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $33,518. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Carolina Columbia placed #13 among the best values for communication & media studies. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $12,688 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $35,586. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Anderson University Sc earned the #14 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Sc is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,970 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $28,034. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Anderson University Sc generally make around $49,036. Set against $28,034 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Furman University came in at #15 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,770. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $22,631. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Furman University generally make around $41,766. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Furman University admits about 43% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
