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2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k

239 Ranked Colleges
4,541 Degrees Awarded
$31,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Communications Schools for a Master's For Those Making $48-$75k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 68,079 communication and media studies students received their degree, making the major the 9th most popular in the country. 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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 4,541 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 239 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.

More Ways to Rank Communication & Media Studies Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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 for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $48-$75k)

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 239 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 83 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567.

Full Northwestern University Communication & Media Studies Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia University in the City of New York. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Columbia is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 87 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York

#3

Stanford University

Stanford, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Stanford

#4

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Johns Hopkins University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k. Johns Hopkins is a private not-for-profit institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 128 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Johns Hopkins also took the #5 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins University are $59,425.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Johns Hopkins

#5

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 239 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pennsylvania landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 12 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UPenn also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#6

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#6 in overall quality

Cornell University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Cornell is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Ithaca, New York. It awarded 4 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornell not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cornell University Communication & Media Studies Report

#7

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #7. Purdue is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 205 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Purdue

#8

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

With a ranking of #8, University of Florida did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 141 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UF also took the #14 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Florida

#9

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
#20 in overall quality

Wake Forest University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and it awarded 12 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wake Forest University, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wake Forest University are $39,216, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Wake Forest University

Top 20% in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle also claimed a top spot on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UW Seattle Communication & Media Studies Report

#17 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 10 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Madison

Florida International University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. FIU is a large public school situated in Miami, Florida. It awarded 89 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at FIU are $24,211.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at FIU

#13

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. UNC Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

UNC Chapel Hill also took the #12 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public institution located in Edinburg, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are $15,151.

Full UT Rio Grande Valley Communication & Media Studies Report

With a ranking of #16, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Cal State LA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 16 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Cal State LA

#17

Hunter College

New York, New York

With a ranking of #17, Hunter College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Hunter College is a large school located in New York, New York that handed out 11 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Hunter are $20,828, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Hunter College Communication & Media Studies Report

#18

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
Top 15% in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities excels when it comes to communications quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845.

Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Communication & Media Studies Report

California State University - Fullerton ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 38 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at California State University - Fullerton

Brigham Young University - Provo did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #20. BYU is a large school located in Provo, Utah that handed out 18 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at BYU are $7,510, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Brigham Young University - Provo

#21

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida

With a ranking of #21, University of Central Florida did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. UCF is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 20 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UCF are $28,657, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Central Florida

University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. USF Tampa is a large public school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 19 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at USF Tampa are $21,126, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at USF Tampa

#23

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
Top 15% in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Indiana University - Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, IU Bloomington is also in the top of our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Communication & Media Studies Report

Top 25% in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 13 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Communication & Media Studies Report

#25

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming

University of Wyoming did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #25. University of Wyoming is a fairly large school located in Laramie, Wyoming that handed out 11 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW are $16,615, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Wyoming

Rest of the Best 36 in Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k

Not only did these schools make the top 36 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#28

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, New York
#29

Queens College

Queens, New York
#30

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington
#31

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#33

Weber State University

Ogden, Utah
#35

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts

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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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