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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism (Income $30-$48k)

326 Ranked Colleges
10,736 Degrees Awarded
$34,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master's For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 121,387 people earned their degree in communication and journalism, making the major the 11th most popular in the United States. 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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 10,736 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 326 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in communication and journalism. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great communication and journalism 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 journalism program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Communication & Journalism Schools

The communication & journalism 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 Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most 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 Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism (Income $30-$48k)

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 485 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Communication & Journalism 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 University are $56,567.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Northwestern

#2

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified masters’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, UPenn has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at University of Pennsylvania

#3

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s communication and journalism degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

Stanford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Stanford University

#4

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Johns Hopkins University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 128 degrees to qualified masters’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

Johns Hopkins not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins are $59,425.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Johns Hopkins

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 326 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #5 spot on the list. Columbia University in the City of New York is located in New York, New York and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 356 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

Columbia also took the #6 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. 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 & Journalism at Columbia University in the City of New York

#6

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#7 in overall quality

Cornell University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cornell University is a large school located in Ithaca, New York that handed out 4 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, Cornell has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Cornell University

#7

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
#23 in overall quality

University of Florida did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. University of Florida is a large school located in Gainesville, Florida that handed out 141 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UF, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Florida are $30,130, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UF Communication & Journalism Report

#8

Georgetown University

Washington, District of Columbia
#2 in overall quality

Georgetown University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 186 diplomas to qualified masters’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Georgetown, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgetown University are $53,591, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Georgetown University Communication & Journalism Report

#16 in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school handed out 76 degrees to qualified masters’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at UW Seattle

#25 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communication and journalism degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UW - Madison Communication & Journalism Report

#11

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communication and journalism degrees to 205 students in 2019-2020.

Purdue also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Purdue Communication & Journalism Report

#12

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Top 10% in overall quality

Wake Forest University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Wake Forest University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It awarded 12 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Wake Forest University also claimed a top spot on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wake Forest University are $39,216.

Full Wake Forest University Communication & Journalism Report

#13

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#18 in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. UNC Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 40 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

UNC Chapel Hill did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

#14

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
Top 15% in overall quality

Northeastern University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 23 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern excels when it comes to communication and journalism quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern are $25,558, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Northeastern

#15

The City College of New York

New York, New York

With a ranking of #15, The City College of New York did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. CCNY is a public institution located in New York, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 36 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The City College of New York are $20,832, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full CCNY Communication & Journalism Report

#16

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts
Top 15% in overall quality

Tufts University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Tufts University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Medford, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Tufts excels when it comes to communication and journalism quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Tufts are $55,168.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Tufts University

Top 10% in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 31 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also claimed a top spot on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% 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 UIUC are $30,083.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#15 in overall quality

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. Georgia Tech is located in Atlanta, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

Georgia Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgia Tech are $31,334, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

Top 25% in overall quality

Florida International University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. FIU is located in Miami, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 89 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida International University are $24,211, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Florida International University

#20

Hunter College

New York, New York

Hunter College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Hunter College is a public institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s 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.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Hunter College

#21

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
Top 20% in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communication and journalism degrees to 58 students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also claimed a top spot on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% 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 UC Berkeley are $29,347.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at University of California - Berkeley

#22

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
Top 10% in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. UMN Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

UMN Twin Cities also claimed a top spot on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% 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 UMN Twin Cities are $28,845.

Full UMN Twin Cities Communication & Journalism Report

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k 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.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

California State University - Los Angeles landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Los Angeles is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 16 masters’s communication and journalism 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 - Los Angeles are $17,723.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Communication & Journalism Report

#25

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
Top 25% in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indiana University - Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at IU Bloomington

Rest of the Best 49 in Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k

Not only did these schools make the top 49 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

The University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida
#29

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#30

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#32

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington
#33

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, New York
#34

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida
#35

Queens College

Queens, New York
#38

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#39

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, Florida
#41

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming
#42

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#43

George Washington University

Washington, District of Columbia
#44

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas
#46

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#47

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#49

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky

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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