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2023 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

56 Ranked Colleges
3,456 Degrees Awarded
$12,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region 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 has developed its “Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

With 66,787 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, communication and media studies is the 10th most popular major in the United States. 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 the Plains States region, there were 3,456 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,709 and $29,348 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 56 colleges that offered 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

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. 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 Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $8,609 for plains states region communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Communication & Media Studies Report

2
UMSL crest
University of Missouri - St Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - St Louis. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UMSL is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 106 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

UMSL also took the #20 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - St Louis is $8,324 for plains states region communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Missouri - St Louis

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UMN Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 90 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $8,697 for plains states region communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth.

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%.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Communication & Media Studies Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 223 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $11,386 for Plains States Region Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, 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 89%.

Full Mizzou Communication & Media Studies Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Iowa State University is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 92 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region communications students whose families make $30-$48k list, Iowa State has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,427 for plains states region communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Iowa State.

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 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Iowa State

6
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. This small school is located in Kirksville, Missouri, and it awarded 44 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Truman State University is $8,898 for plains states region communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, 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 88%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Truman State University

7

Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mankato, Minnesota, and it awarded 141 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $12,263 for plains states region 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 Minnesota State Mankato

8
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 216 students in 2020-2021.

Iowa also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa is $15,508 for Plains States Region Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

9
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Saint Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 105 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

St. Cloud State University also took the #17 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St. Cloud State University is $10,825 for plains states region communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full St. Cloud State University Communication & Media Studies Report

10
UNI crest
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UNI is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 62 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

UNI also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $13,175 for plains states region communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, 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 86%.

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

11

With a ranking of #11, Northwest Missouri State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Maryville, Missouri, and it awarded 62 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Northwest Missouri State University is $10,608 for Plains States Region Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Northwest

12

University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UNL is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 47 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

UNL also took the #6 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNL is $13,453 for plains states region communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad 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 University of Nebraska - Lincoln Communication & Media Studies Report

13
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. KU is a large school located in Lawrence, Kansas that handed out 162 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region communications students whose families make $30-$48k list, KU has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,288 for Plains States Region Communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Kansas.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%.

Full KU Communication & Media Studies Report

14
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

With a ranking of #14, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 104 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UND, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of North Dakota is $13,151 for plains states region communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of North Dakota

15
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

With a ranking of #15, Winona State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 77 students in 2020-2021.

Winona State also took the #13 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Winona State is $12,963 for Plains States Region Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Winona State

16
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 69 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $11,406 for Plains States Region Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Southeast Missouri State University

17

Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 100 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Missouri State also took the #22 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State is $13,144 for plains states region communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Missouri State Communication & Media Studies Report

18

University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a fairly large school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 33 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Omaha is $11,294 for plains states region communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UNOMAHA

19
Gustavus Adolphus crest
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, Minnesota

Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Gustavus Adolphus is a small school located in Saint Peter, Minnesota that handed out 24 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,445 for Plains States Region Communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. 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%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Gustavus Adolphus

20
WSC crest
Wayne State College
Wayne, Nebraska

Wayne State College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Wayne State College is a small school located in Wayne, Nebraska that handed out 23 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Wayne State College is $11,672 for plains states region communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Wayne State College

21
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized school located in Saint Charles, Missouri that handed out 33 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Lindenwood University also took the #23 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lindenwood University is $13,008 for Plains States Region Communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Lindenwood University

22

With a ranking of #22, University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 74 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Kansas City is $13,751 for plains states region communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Missouri - Kansas City

23
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University of South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota

University of South Dakota came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Vermillion, South Dakota, and it awarded 82 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

USD also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $17,294 for Plains States Region Communications students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of South Dakota.

The undergrad 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 USD

24
Washburn University crest
Washburn University
Topeka, Kansas

With a ranking of #24, Washburn University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Washburn University is a public institution located in Topeka, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 53 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Washburn University is $12,574 for plains states region communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Washburn University

25
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

South Dakota State University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 38 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

South Dakota State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State is $14,846 for plains states region communications students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 South Dakota State Communication & Media Studies Report

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