[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communication & media studies students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the communication & media studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
George Mason University earned the #1 spot for value among communication & media studies schools in Virginia. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $63,131. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Old Dominion University earned it the #2 place for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,750, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,001 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $57,131. That is a strong return on a $26,001 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Radford University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,548, while out-of-state students pay about $25,633. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,250. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $38,038. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #4 makes John Tyler Community College one of the best values for communication & media studies. Set in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,082, while out-of-state students pay about $11,520. Students borrow a median of $11,262 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of John Tyler Community College earn a median of $36,623 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Virginia Commonwealth University, which ranked #5. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $35,808 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Virginia State University came in at #6 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,043, with out-of-state students paying around $22,650. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $28,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $23,897. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Regent University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,650. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $52,175. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Bridgewater College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,090. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Bridgewater College generally make around $29,477. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Lynchburg College earned the #9 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,750. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Lynchburg College earn a median of $107,159 early in their careers. Lynchburg College admits about 43% of applicants.
University Of Mary Washington ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,905 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,083. Students borrow a median of $22,825 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $43,243. That is a strong return on a $22,825 median debt. University Of Mary Washington admits about 80% of applicants.
James Madison University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,966 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $21,502 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $42,769 early in their careers. Set against $21,502 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Emory And Henry College landed the #12 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Emory And Henry College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Emory. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,938 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Emory And Henry College generally make around $47,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Longwood University placed #13 among the best values for communication & media studies. Longwood University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Farmville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,740, while out-of-state students pay about $27,980. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $26,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Longwood University earn a median of $36,062 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Virginia Union University earned the #14 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Union University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,830. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $18,076. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Christopher Newport University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Newport News, Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,828 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,178. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,000. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Christopher Newport University earn a median of $36,953 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $21,230 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $47,368. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #17 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,613. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $44,309 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Marymount University placed #18 among the best values for communication & media studies. Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Arlington. Students from in state pay about $40,120 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,880 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $58,028. Set against $26,880 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Randolph Macon College earned the #19 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Randolph Macon College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ashland. In-state tuition and fees average $49,466. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Randolph Macon College earn a median of $40,328 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Roanoke College landed the #20 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salem. In-state tuition and fees average $38,068. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,975 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $36,220. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Liberty University landed the #21 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $39,116. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
More Communication & Media Studies Rankings
View All Communication & Media Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 30 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.
