[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 29 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value communication & media studies schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & media studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Saint Cloud State University earned the #1 spot for value among communication & media studies schools in Minnesota. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,245 in tuition and fees. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $40,279. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $21,577. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $56,395. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Minnesota Crookston earned it the #3 place for communication & media studies. University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Crookston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,288. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,288. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Crookston generally make around $42,458. That is a strong return on a $25,288 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & media studies will find it at Rochester Community And Technical College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,389. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $20,291. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $27,798. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Concordia University Saint Paul one of the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,600. Students borrow a median of $29,026 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Concordia University Saint Paul generally make around $46,327. Set against $29,026 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Bemidji State University came in at #6 for value in communication & media studies this year. Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Bemidji. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,237. Students borrow a median of $20,875 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $34,243. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Winona State University came in at #7 for value in communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,576, compared with $17,308 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $38,197 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #8 for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,428. Students borrow a median of $23,774 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $36,172 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 59%.
University Of Minnesota Duluth landed the #9 spot for communication & media studies value this year. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public school located in the city of Duluth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $24,182. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $39,706. Set against $24,182 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Duluth admits about 89% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Mankato earned the #10 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $39,798. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Metropolitan State University placed #11 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,840. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $34,933 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $46,320. That is a strong return on a $34,933 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Hamline University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,004. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $42,201. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Augsburg College landed the #13 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,452. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Augsburg College earn a median of $36,604 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia College At Moorhead landed the #14 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Concordia College At Moorhead is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,170. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the communication & media studies program here. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Concordia College At Moorhead generally make around $42,431. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #15 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Set in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $56,076. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $50,074. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Saint Johns University earned the #16 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the rural area of Collegeville, Saint Johns University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $55,816. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $40,423. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Crown College earned the #17 position for value in communication & media studies this year. Set in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius, Crown College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,410. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $29,537. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Crown College earn a median of $42,695 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 23%.
College Of Saint Benedict ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Joseph, College Of Saint Benedict is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,756. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Communication & Media Studies graduates of College Of Saint Benedict earn a median of $45,702 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. College Of Saint Benedict admits about 92% of applicants.
Bethel University Minnesota placed #19 among the best values for communication & media studies. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,226. Typical student debt for communication & media studies graduates is $25,937. Early-career communication & media studies graduates make about $40,019. That is a strong return on a $25,937 median debt. Bethel University Minnesota admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #20 spot for communication & media studies value this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $54,398. Communication & Media Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $45,100. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of St Thomas Minnesota admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
