[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 26 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.
Our analysis ranked Middle Tennessee State University the best value for a degree in communication & media studies in Tennessee. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,329. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $29,877 early in their careers. Set against $24,329 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Tennessee Martin earned it the #2 place for communication & media studies. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Martin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,560, while out-of-state students pay about $16,600. Students borrow a median of $24,481 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $26,803. Set against $24,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,448 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $21,831. Communication & Media Studies graduates of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn a median of $33,082 early in their careers. Set against $21,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Tennessee State University one of the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $22,416. Students borrow a median of $30,625 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median of $25,140 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,625 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Memphis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $23,381. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $26,922. Set against $23,381 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
Austin Peay State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,006 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,766 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $34,582 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Austin Peay State University admits about 96% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #7 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $20,875 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $41,258 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
East Tennessee State University earned the #8 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,216, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $33,111 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Bryan College Dayton earned the #9 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Bryan College Dayton is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Dayton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,800. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,652. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Bryan College Dayton earn a median of $44,067 early in their careers. Set against $25,652 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Vanderbilt University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $77,997. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Carson Newman College placed #11 among the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Jefferson City, Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,700. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,235. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Carson Newman College generally make around $28,221. That is a strong return on a $20,235 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Union University came in at #12 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,398. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $28,605 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $68,508. Set against $28,605 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Belmont University earned the #13 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,540. Students borrow a median of $22,125 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $41,889. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 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.
