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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

17 Ranked Colleges
853 Degrees Awarded
$13,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Communication & Media Studies is the 74th most popular major in the country with 10,951 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Southwest region, there were 1,029 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 853 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,896 and $23,899 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 17 colleges that offer a degree in communication and media studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great communication and media studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the communication and media studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Edinburg, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 86 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Rio Grande Valley has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $2,993 for southwest region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UT Rio Grande Valley.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

#2

Trinity University

San Antonio, Texas
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Trinity University landed the #2 spot on the list. Trinity U is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 40 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Trinity U, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Trinity U is $12,373 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Trinity University

#3

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas Tech University landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school awarded 77 degrees to qualified bachelors’s media studies students in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $12,317 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas Tech.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Texas Tech University Communication & Media Studies Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Arizona State University - Skysong. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Arizona State University - Skysong is a public institution located in Scottsdale, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 199 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, ASU - Skysong has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for ASU - Skysong is $12,037 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Arizona State University - Skysong

#4

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend MSU Texas. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Wichita Falls, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 27 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s media studies students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU Texas, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MSU Texas is $7,703 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full MSU Texas Communication & Media Studies Report

#5

East Central University

Ada, Oklahoma
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, East Central University landed the #5 spot on the list. East Central University is a public institution located in Ada, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

ECU also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $7,787 for southwest region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend East Central University.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at East Central University

#6

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#5 in overall quality

University of Houston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. University of Houston is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 5 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UH also took the #5 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston is $10,203 for southwest region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UH

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, The University of Texas at Tyler did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UT Tyler is a public institution located in Tyler, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Tyler has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Tyler is $6,797 for southwest region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full The University of Texas at Tyler Communication & Media Studies Report

#8

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas
#6 in overall quality

Texas State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in San Marcos, Texas, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Texas State University is $11,125 for southwest region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Texas State

#11 in overall quality

Stephen F Austin State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Stephen F Austin State University is located in Nacogdoches, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 59 bachelors’s media studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFASU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Stephen F Austin State University is $8,650 for southwest region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at SFASU

#10

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Sam Houston State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Huntsville, Texas, and it awarded 132 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

SHSU also took the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Sam Houston State University is $10,561 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Sam Houston State University Communication & Media Studies Report

#11

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, Texas
#12 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $15,501 for southwest region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

Full Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi Communication & Media Studies Report

#12

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, Texas
#1 in overall quality

Texas Christian University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. TCU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fort Worth, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

TCU also took the #1 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas Christian University is $21,286 for southwest region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Texas Christian University

#13

Oral Roberts University

Tulsa, Oklahoma
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Oral Roberts University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Oral Roberts University is a small school located in Tulsa, Oklahoma that handed out 2 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

ORU also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend Oral Roberts University is $17,078 for southwest region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at ORU

#14

Wiley College

Marshall, Texas
#18 in overall quality

Wiley College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wiley College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Marshall, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Wiley College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Wiley College is $17,708 for southwest region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Wiley College Communication & Media Studies Report

#15

Texas Southern University

Houston, Texas
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Texas Southern University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

TSU also took the #17 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $19,390 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas Southern University.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at TSU

#16

University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, Texas
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, University of the Incarnate Word did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIW is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIW also took the #16 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of the Incarnate Word is $21,597 for southwest region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of the Incarnate Word

#15 in overall quality

University of Mary Hardin - Baylor did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. University of Mary Hardin - Baylor is a small school located in Belton, Texas that handed out 12 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMHB has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMHB is $24,867 for southwest region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Mary Hardin - Baylor Communication & Media Studies Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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