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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

203 Ranked Colleges
22,795 Degrees Awarded
$6,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Communication & Journalism is the 11th most popular major in the country with 121,387 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, communication and journalism graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,549 and had an average of $24,893 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 26,563 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,085 and $25,539 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 22,795 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,277 and $25,415 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 203 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in communication and journalism. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality communication and journalism programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the communication and journalism program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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 Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

#1

Washington and Lee University

Lexington, Virginia
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington and Lee University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Lexington, Virginia, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Washington and Lee also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend Washington and Lee is $1,612 for southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Washington and Lee

#2

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 203 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 713 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

UF also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for University of Florida is $1,994 for southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 97%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at UF

#3

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNC Chapel Hill is a large public school situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It awarded 617 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $4,026 for southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Communication & Journalism Report

#4

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanderbilt University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This fairly large school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Vanderbilt also took the #10 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $3,156 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Vanderbilt.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Vanderbilt University

#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 43 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Georgia Tech, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $9,162 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Georgia Tech.

The low student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

#6

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#14 in overall quality

Florida State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 338 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

Florida State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Florida State University is $5,360 for southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

Full Florida State Communication & Journalism Report

Top 20% in overall quality

Florida International University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. FIU is located in Miami, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 806 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

FIU also claimed a top spot on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend FIU is $5,002 for southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Florida International University

Top 15% in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of Central Florida did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UCF is a large school located in Orlando, Florida that handed out 661 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UCF also did well on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Florida is $6,211 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of Central Florida Communication & Journalism Report

Top 20% in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. USF Tampa is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 541 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, USF Tampa is also in the top of our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend USF Tampa is $3,950 for southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at USF Tampa

#10

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of Georgia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Athens, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 753 students in 2019-2020.

UGA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Georgia is $7,541 for southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at University of Georgia

#11

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, North Carolina State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. North Carolina State University is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 199 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

NC State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend NC State is $7,285 for southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at North Carolina State University

#12

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, Florida
Top 25% in overall quality

University of North Florida did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. This fairly large school is located in Jacksonville, Florida, and it awarded 246 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,097 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNF.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of North Florida Communication & Journalism Report

#13

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
#4 in overall quality

Wake Forest University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Winston-Salem, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 113 students in 2019-2020.

Wake Forest University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Wake Forest University is $5,250 for southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Wake Forest University

#14

University of Mississippi

University, Mississippi
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, University of Mississippi did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Mississippi is a large school located in University, Mississippi that handed out 444 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Ole Miss did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Mississippi is $9,455 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of Mississippi

#15

University of Richmond

University of Richmond, Virginia
#15 in overall quality

University of Richmond did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. University of Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution located in University of Richmond, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

URichmond also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $9,112 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend URichmond.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at URichmond

#16

Berea College

Berea, Kentucky
Top 25% in overall quality

Berea College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Berea, Kentucky, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 24 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Berea is $5,296 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Berea College

#17

The University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida

The University of West Florida came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Pensacola, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 104 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UWF is $4,140 for southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at UWF

#18

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia
#6 in overall quality

Virginia Tech did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Virginia Tech is a public institution located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 178 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k list, Virginia Tech has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $11,138 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Virginia Tech Communication & Journalism Report

#19

Florida State College at Jacksonville

Jacksonville, Florida

Florida State College at Jacksonville landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Florida State College at Jacksonville is a public institution located in Jacksonville, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for FSCJ is $2,126 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full FSCJ Communication & Journalism Report

#20

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky

Northern Kentucky University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Northern Kentucky University is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 174 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $4,156 for southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NKU.

Full NKU Communication & Journalism Report

#21

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, Florida
Top 25% in overall quality

Florida Gulf Coast University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Fort Myers, Florida, and it awarded 213 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Florida Gulf Coast University is $7,824 for southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full FGCU Communication & Journalism Report

#22

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina
Top 20% in overall quality

Appalachian State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Appalachian State is a large school located in Boone, North Carolina that handed out 329 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Appalachian State also did well on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Appalachian State is $7,169 for southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 3.9% 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 Appalachian State Communication & Journalism Report

#23

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Boca Raton, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 343 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Florida Atlantic University is $6,085 for southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Florida Atlantic University

#24

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina
Top 25% in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Greensboro did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. UNC Greensboro is a fairly large public school situated in Greensboro, North Carolina. It awarded 206 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,853 for southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNC Greensboro.

Full University of North Carolina at Greensboro Communication & Journalism Report

#25

West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia
Top 15% in overall quality

With a ranking of #25, West Virginia University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. West Virginia University is located in Morgantown, West Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 245 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on this list, WVU is in the top on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $9,213 for southeast region bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend West Virginia University.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at WVU

Rest of the Best 31 in Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 31 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, Virginia
#30

Marshall University

Huntington, West Virginia
#31

University of South Carolina - Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina

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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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