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2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

239 Ranked Colleges
4,541 Degrees Awarded
$25,800 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Communications Schools for a Master's For Those Getting Aid

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 for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” 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 9th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 68,079 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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.

This year’s “Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 239 colleges that offered 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.

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 Master’s For Those Getting Aid”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (With Aid)

#1

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 141 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree communications students with aid list, UF has also earned the #14 rank 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 University of Florida are $30,130.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Florida

#2

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Out of the 239 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #2 spot on the 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 made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Communication & Media Studies Report

#3

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 205 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue also took the #8 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 Purdue are $28,794.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Purdue

#4

Hunter College

New York, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hunter College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in New York, New York, this large public school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified masters’s communications students in 2019-2020.

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

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Hunter

Top 20% in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

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

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UW Seattle

California State University - Los Angeles came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cal State LA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 16 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Cal State LA

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Edinburg, Texas, and it awarded 10 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UT Rio Grande Valley Communication & Media Studies Report

Florida International University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Florida International University is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 89 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at FIU are $24,211, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Florida International University

California State University - Fullerton came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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 Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Cal State Fullerton

#10

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Stanford University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Stanford is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stanford, the school also landed the #7 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 Stanford University are $55,011.

Full Stanford University Communication & Media Studies Report

#11

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Brooklyn College is located in Brooklyn, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Brooklyn College are $20,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Brooklyn College

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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.

In addition to being on our master’s degree communications students with aid list, UIUC has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#17 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree communications students with aid list, UW - Madison has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UW - Madison

Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in New York, New York, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 87 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2019-2020.

Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York 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

#15

Queens College

Queens, New York

With a ranking of #15, Queens College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. QC is located in Queens, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at QC are $21,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Queens College Communication & Media Studies Report

California State University - Fresno ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Fresno Communication & Media Studies Report

Brigham Young University - Provo came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Provo, Utah, and it awarded 18 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 Brigham Young University - Provo are $7,510.

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

University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 19 students 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 full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of South Florida - Main Campus

California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. California State University - Northridge is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 23 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 California State University - Northridge are $17,955.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at CSUN

#20

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
Top 15% in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. IU Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 7 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, IU Bloomington is in the top on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Indiana University - Bloomington

#21

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#4 in overall quality

University of Pennsylvania came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified masters’s communications students in 2019-2020.

UPenn did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#22

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida

University of Central Florida ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of Central Florida is a large school located in Orlando, Florida that handed out 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.

Full UCF Communication & Media Studies Report

#23

Weber State University

Ogden, Utah

Weber State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. Ogden, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Weber State University are $19,022, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#24

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a public institution located in Whitewater, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 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 University of Wisconsin - Whitewater are $19,200.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UW - Whitewater

#25

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Diego State University is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 25 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at San Diego State University

Rest of the Best 36 in Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

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

#26

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#28

West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia
#30

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky
#32

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California
#33

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#34

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#36

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

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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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