2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor's Degree School for You
In 2020-2021, 66,787 communication and media studies students received a degree or certificate, making the major the #10 most popular in the country.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Communication & Media Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 110 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which bachelor's degree programs offered the best value experiences for communications students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Check out the communications bachelor's degree programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.
Top 15% Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools
Our analysis found Western Illinois University to be the best value school for communication and media studies students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the remote town of Macomb, WIU is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WIU are $13,297 per year.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Western Illinois University
Out of the 110 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the # 2 spot on the list. SIUE is a large public school located in the large suburb of Edwardsville.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at SIUE are $11,496 a year. While working on their Bachelor's Degree, communications majors at SIUE accumulate an average of around $24,274 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $198, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW Oshkosh is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Oshkosh.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW Oshkosh are $15,306 per year. On average, communications graduates from UW Oshkosh take out $24,875 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Out of the 110 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the # 4 spot on the list. UW - Whitewater is a large public school located in the distant town of Whitewater.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Whitewater are $16,602 a year. On average, communications graduates from UW - Whitewater take out $23,720 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $260.
In addition to its great value ranking, UW - Whitewater is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Report
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a great value for communication and media studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. UW - La Crosse is a fairly large public school located in the city of La Crosse.
UW - La Crosse undergraduate students pay an average of $18,014 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that communications majors at UW - La Crosse take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $21,686. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $113, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UW - La Crosse also did well on our Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Report
Central Michigan University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree communication and media studies programs. Central Michigan is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant.
Central Michigan undergraduate students pay an average of $13,094 in tuition and fees each year. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $251, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Central Michigan University Report
Northern Illinois University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. NIU is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at NIU are $14,738 a year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, communications graduates from NIU carry an average student debtload of $27,694. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $199, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Northern Illinois University
University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for communication and media studies students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the distant town of River Falls, UW - River Falls is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - River Falls are $15,661 a year. Communications majors at UW - River Falls take out an average of $21,755 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
In addition to its great value ranking, UW - River Falls is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
With a ranking of #9, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the distant town of Charleston, EIU is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
EIU undergraduate students pay an average of $14,551 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that communications majors at EIU take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $23,210. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $181, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Eastern Illinois University Report
University of Wisconsin - Parkside landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree communication and media studies programs. Located in the suburb of Kenosha, UW - Parkside is a public college with a small student population.
UW - Parkside undergraduate students pay an average of $15,714 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that communications majors at UW - Parkside take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $26,844.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Parkside
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree communication and media studies programs. UW - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Stevens Point are $17,035 a year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, communications graduates from UW - Stevens Point carry an average student debtload of $23,947. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $214.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Report
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the small city of Eau Claire, UW - Eau Claire is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Eau Claire are $17,149 per year. On average, communications graduates from UW - Eau Claire take out $21,366 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
In addition to its great value ranking, UW - Eau Claire is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Report
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree communication and media studies programs. UW - Green Bay is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Green Bay.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Green Bay are $16,091 per year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, communications graduates from UW - Green Bay carry an average student debtload of $22,314.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Report
Eastern Michigan University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Ypsilanti.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Eastern Michigan are $15,500 per year. The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Eastern Michigan take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $29,454. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $128, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Eastern Michigan University Report
Purdue University Northwest ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue Northwest is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Purdue Northwest are $14,349 per year. Communications majors at Purdue Northwest take out an average of $29,272 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Purdue University Northwest Report
Illinois State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the midsize suburb of Normal.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Illinois State are $24,172 a year. On average, communications graduates from Illinois State take out $19,641 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $242.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Illinois State also is in the top 15% of our Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Communication & Media Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, MI |
| 18 | Purdue University - Main Campus | West Lafayette, IN |
| 19 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI |
| 20 | Miami University - Hamilton | Hamilton, OH |
| 21 | Indiana University - Kokomo | Kokomo, IN |
| 22 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI |
| 22 | Purdue University Global | Indianapolis, IN |
Best Communication & Media Studies Colleges by State
Explore the best communication and media studies colleges for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 1,789 |
| Ohio | 2,149 |
| Illinois | 2,072 |
| Indiana | 1,600 |
| Wisconsin | 1,297 |
More Communication & Media Studies Rankings in the Great Lakes Region
Communication & Media Studies Related Majors for Communications
Communication & Media Studies is one of 5 different types of programs to choose from.
Majors Similar to Communications
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Relations & Advertising | 21,099 |
| Radio, Television & Digital Communication | 17,669 |
| Journalism | 13,552 |
| Communication & Journalism (Other) | 1,128 |
| Publishing | 336 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to UNU-WIDER from Helsinki, Finland.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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