14
Ranked Colleges
2,067
Degrees Awarded
$18,400
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Communication & Media Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 10th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 66,787 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, communication and media studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,115 and had an average of $25,414 in loans still to pay off.
Across Virginia, there were 2,067 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,169 and $28,330 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer a degree in communication and media studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent communication and media studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the communication and media studies program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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 Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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 in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia Tech. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k. Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 266 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
Virginia Tech also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $14,003 for virginia communications students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Virginia Tech
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend James Madison University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k list. JMU is a public institution located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 446 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
JMU also took the #2 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $14,985 for Virginia Communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend JMU.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at James Madison University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Radford University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k. Radford is a medium-sized public school situated in Radford, Virginia. It awarded 74 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
Radford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $13,026 for Virginia Communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Radford.
Full Radford Communication & Media Studies Report
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #4 spot on the list. Richmond, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 258 students in 2020-2021.
VCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for VCU is $15,891 for Virginia Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 VCU
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Christopher Newport University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Newport News, Virginia, this small public school handed out 107 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our virginia communications students whose families make $30-$48k list, CNU has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CNU is $15,990 for Virginia Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at CNU
Bridgewater College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bridgewater, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.
Bridgewater did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Bridgewater is $18,579 for virginia communications students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Bridgewater College Communication & Media Studies Report
Regent University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Regent is a private not-for-profit institution located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 95 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our virginia communications students whose families make $30-$48k list, Regent has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $20,707 for Virginia Communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Regent University.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Regent
Roanoke College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Roanoke is located in Salem, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Roanoke, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Roanoke is $20,849 for virginia communications students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Roanoke College
Randolph - Macon College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Randolph - Macon College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Ashland, Virginia. It awarded 41 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Randolph - Macon, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Randolph - Macon College is $20,027 for Virginia Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Randolph - Macon
Virginia State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Virginia State is located in Petersburg, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 58 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
Virginia State also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia State University is $16,672 for Virginia Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Virginia State Communication & Media Studies Report
Liberty University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 316 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Liberty University also took the #4 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Liberty University is $27,251 for Virginia Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Liberty University Communication & Media Studies Report
Marymount University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k list. Marymount is located in Arlington, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Marymount, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Marymount University is $21,777 for virginia communications students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Marymount
With a ranking of #13, University of Lynchburg did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k list. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.
Lynchburg also took the #12 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lynchburg is $18,080 for Virginia Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full University of Lynchburg Communication & Media Studies Report
Virginia Union University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in Virginia For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Richmond, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.
VUU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for VUU is $19,117 for virginia communications students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Virginia Union University
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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
- *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.
Credits
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