2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
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 the Plains States region, there were 3,723 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,583 and $25,858 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 3,293 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 71 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.
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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One Size Does Not Fit All
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 the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Mizzou is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 190 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $13,145 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Missouri - Columbia
Out of the 71 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Crookston landed the #2 spot on the list. UMN Crookston is located in Crookston, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Crookston is $8,680 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UMN Crookston
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Truman State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Truman State University is a small school located in Kirksville, Missouri that handed out 50 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
Truman State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Truman State is $12,031 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 82 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Duluth, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Duluth is $12,438 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 University of Minnesota - Duluth
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Ames, Iowa, and it awarded 78 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
Iowa State also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $14,161 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Iowa State
With a ranking of #6, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large public school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 121 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
Minnesota State Mankato not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $14,451 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Minnesota State Mankato Communication & Media Studies Report
With a ranking of #7, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 115 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.
St. Cloud State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,373 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend St. Cloud State University.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at St. Cloud State University
University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UNL is a large public school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 48 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
UNL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln is $16,197 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a fairly large public school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 36 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Omaha is $13,833 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a ranking of #10, University of Northern Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UNI is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 56 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
UNI also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for UNI is $15,729 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 University of Northern Iowa
With a ranking of #11, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UND is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 77 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.
UND did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,109 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UND.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of North Dakota
University of Iowa landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 203 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
Iowa also took the #2 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,272 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Iowa.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Winona State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 66 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Winona State, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Winona State University is $15,140 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Winona State
University of Missouri - St Louis came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 94 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $7,894 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Missouri - St Louis.
Southeast Missouri State University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, this fairly large public school handed out 105 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $12,882 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Southeast Missouri State University.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Southeast Missouri State University
Bethany Lutheran College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Bethany Lutheran College is $15,373 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Full Bethany Lutheran College Communication & Media Studies Report
Valley City State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. Valley City State University is located in Valley City, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Valley City State University is $11,840 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full Valley City State University Communication & Media Studies Report
Northwest Missouri State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northwest Missouri State University is located in Maryville, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 63 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Northwest is $11,988 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Northwest Missouri State University
Macalester College landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k list, Macalester has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Macalester is $20,102 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Macalester College Communication & Media Studies Report
University of Kansas came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 131 students in 2019-2020.
KU also took the #6 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for KU is $17,132 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
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 University of Kansas
Concordia College at Moorhead did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. Concordia College at Moorhead is located in Moorhead, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 30 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.
Concordia College Moorhead not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia College at Moorhead is $20,924 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Concordia College at Moorhead
Missouri Southern State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Missouri Southern is located in Joplin, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Southern is $10,124 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Missouri Southern State University
With a ranking of #23, Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Gustavus Adolphus is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Peter, Minnesota. It awarded 35 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
Gustavus Adolphus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Gustavus Adolphus College is $14,548 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Gustavus Adolphus
University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Missouri - Kansas City is a public institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 92 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City is $14,571 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
Kansas State University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. K -State is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 34 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.
K -State also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $16,889 for plains states region bachelor’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Kansas State University.
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 K -State
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to UNU-WIDER from Helsinki, Finland.
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