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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa

13 Ranked Colleges
486 Degrees Awarded
$17,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor's in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

With 68,079 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, communication and media studies is the 9th most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, communication and media studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,728 and had an average of $24,931 in loans still to pay off.

Across Iowa, there were 532 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,980 and $27,392 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 486 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,922 and $25,876 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 13 colleges that offer a degree in communication and media studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality communication and media studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the communication and media studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Communication & Media Studies Schools

The communications school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 13 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k. Iowa State University is a large school located in Ames, Iowa that handed out 78 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k list, Iowa State has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State is $10,843 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Iowa State University Communication & Media Studies Report

#2

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 56 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $12,495 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UNI.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Northern Iowa

#3

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k. Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 203 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $15,073 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Iowa.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, 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 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Iowa Communication & Media Studies Report

#4

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Coe College landed the #4 spot on the list. Coe College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Coe also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Coe is $15,918 for iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Coe College

#5

Wartburg College

Waverly, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wartburg College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k. Waverly, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

Wartburg also took the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $19,037 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Wartburg.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Wartburg College

#6

Central College

Pella, Iowa

Central College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Central is located in Pella, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Central did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $19,207 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Central.

The low student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Central College

Maharishi International University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Fairfield, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

MIU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at MIU

#8

Loras College

Dubuque, Iowa

With a ranking of #8, Loras College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Loras College is a small school located in Dubuque, Iowa that handed out 14 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Loras did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $17,094 for iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Loras.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Loras Communication & Media Studies Report

#9

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa

Luther College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Luther is located in Decorah, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Luther, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $17,630 for iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Luther.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Luther Communication & Media Studies Report

Graceland University - Lamoni landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Lamoni, Iowa, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Graceland Lamoni not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Graceland University - Lamoni is $17,337 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Graceland Lamoni

#11

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa

Saint Ambrose University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Saint Ambrose University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Davenport, Iowa. It awarded 5 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Ambrose University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for St. Ambrose University is $24,516 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at St. Ambrose University

#12

Waldorf University

Forest City, Iowa

Waldorf University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Waldorf University is a small school located in Forest City, Iowa that handed out 9 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Waldorf also took the #13 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Waldorf is $16,991 for iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Waldorf

#13

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, Iowa

University of Dubuque landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UD is a small school located in Dubuque, Iowa that handed out 23 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UD also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend University of Dubuque is $21,715 for iowa bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full University of Dubuque 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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