2026 Best Value Communication Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Communication Sciences associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 410 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Healthcare Degree Search analyzed schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Communication Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Lake Region State College tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Communication Sciences associate's degree schools in the United States. This public school is set in Devils Lake, ND. Students from in state pay about $5,520 in tuition and fees. Lake Region State College Communication Sciences students take on a median of $15,784 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,502. Set against $15,784 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Lake Region State College report
Granite State College came in at #2 on this year's best-value Communication Sciences ranking in the United States. Based in Manchester, NH, Granite State College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,724, while out-of-state students pay about $9,284. Granite State College Communication Sciences students take on a median of $27,522 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $66,479. That is a strong return on a $27,522 median debt. Read the full report on Granite State College
You'll get strong value at Copiah Lincoln Community College, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Wesson, MS, Copiah Lincoln Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,200, while out-of-state students pay about $5,200. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $31,241. Read the full report on Copiah Lincoln Community College
San Joaquin Delta College came in at #4 on this year's best-value Communication Sciences ranking in the United States. San Joaquin Delta College is a public school based in Stockton, CA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans. Median earnings reach $43,212 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on San Joaquin Delta College
A rank of #5 makes Pasadena City College one of the best values in the United States. Set in Pasadena, CA, Pasadena City College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $43,937. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt. Read the full report on Pasadena City College
Santa Ana College offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Santa Ana College is a public school based in Santa Ana, CA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Typical Communication Sciences student debt is $11,196. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,552. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Santa Ana College
American River College came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Sacramento, CA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Students borrow a median of $14,105 to complete their Communication Sciences program here. American River College alumni report median earnings of $40,162 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on American River College
Orange Coast College offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. This public school is set in Costa Mesa, CA. In-state tuition and fees average $1,392, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. Typical Communication Sciences student debt is $8,978. Median earnings reach $47,348 ten years out. Set against $8,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Orange Coast College
Cerritos College landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Norwalk, CA, Cerritos College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Cerritos College Communication Sciences students take on a median of $11,306 in debt. Cerritos College alumni report median earnings of $41,156 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Cerritos College
East Mississippi Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Communication Sciences schools. East Mississippi Community College is a public school based in Scooba, MS. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,095, with out-of-state students paying around $7,445. The median Communication Sciences program debt is $9,422. Median earnings reach $33,772 ten years out. Set against $9,422 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on East Mississippi Community College
University Of Cincinnati Clermont College landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Batavia, OH, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,639, compared with $13,871 for out-of-state students. University Of Cincinnati Clermont College Communication Sciences students take on a median of $19,525 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,810 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full University Of Cincinnati Clermont College report
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Located in Blue Ash, OH, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,106, with out-of-state students paying around $15,904. Graduates carry a median of $19,408 in student loans. Median earnings reach $54,810 ten years out. Set against $19,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College profile
Southern Adventist University came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Located in Collegedale, TN, Southern Adventist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,300. The median Communication Sciences program debt is $25,498. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,723 ten years after entry. Set against $25,498 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%. Read more about Southern Adventist University
College Of Our Lady Of The Elms landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Chicopee, MA, College Of Our Lady Of The Elms is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $43,325 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,540. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. College Of Our Lady Of The Elms has an acceptance rate of 85%. See the full College Of Our Lady Of The Elms profile
Elmira College
Elmira College offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. See the full Elmira College profile
Glendale Community College Glendale Az offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read the full report on Glendale Community College Glendale Az
University Of Wyoming placed #17 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. See the full University Of Wyoming profile
Brescia University offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Get the full Brescia University report
University Of Utah offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Get the full University Of Utah report
Mount Vernon Nazarene University came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Suny College At Cortland placed #21 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Suny College At Cortland
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater placed #22 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Whitewater report
Tennessee State University placed #23 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Tennessee State University report
Concordia University Wisconsin came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Concordia University Wisconsin report
San Jose State University offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. See the full San Jose State University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Communication Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Yeshiva University came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Yeshiva University
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Communication Sciences schools. Get the full Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans report
Murray State University placed #28 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. More on Murray State University
Northwestern University placed #29 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Northwestern University report
State University Of New York At New Paltz placed #30 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on State University Of New York At New Paltz
University Of Florida Online ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Communication Sciences schools. Read more about University Of Florida Online
Andrews University placed #32 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. See the full Andrews University profile
Ball State University came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. See the full Ball State University profile
Kent State University At Kent offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Read more about Kent State University At Kent
University At Buffalo placed #35 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about University At Buffalo
University Of Northern Iowa offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. Read more about University Of Northern Iowa
Butler University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Communication Sciences schools. Read more about Butler University
Monmouth University came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Monmouth University
University Of California San Diego landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of California San Diego
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Nebraska Lincoln placed #41 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Nebraska Lincoln
West Liberty University placed #42 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full West Liberty University report
Hardin Simmons University came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. See the full Hardin Simmons University profile
Northwest State Community College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Communication Sciences schools. Read more about Northwest State Community College
University Of North Dakota placed #45 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. More on University Of North Dakota
Coahoma Community College placed #46 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Coahoma Community College
Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Sebastian came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. More on Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Sebastian
Madera Community College came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. More on Madera Community College
Cuny Brooklyn College ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Communication Sciences schools. Get the full Cuny Brooklyn College report
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock placed #50 among the best-value Communication Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Arkansas At Little Rock report
Related Communication Sciences Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Communication Sciences Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Communication Sciences Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Communication Sciences Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Communication Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Communication Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Communication Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Communication Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Healthcare Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 410 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).