2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Communication & Media Studies 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 Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This report analyzed 114 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best value programs for communications students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
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.
Top 15% Best Communication & Media Studies Schools
Our 2023 rankings named Columbia College Chicago the best value school in the Great Lakes Region for communication and media studies students. Located in the large city of Chicago, Columbia is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Columbia are $27,786 a year.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Western Illinois University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the remote town of Macomb, WIU is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
WIU undergraduate students pay an average of $13,297 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from WIU carry an average student debtload of $28,032.
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Out of the 114 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Youngstown State University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Youngstown State University are $9,732 per year.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. SIUE is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SIUE are $11,496 per year. While working on their degree, communications majors at SIUE accumulate an average of around $22,203 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $198, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Spring Arbor University is a great value for communication and media studies students. Located in the suburb of Spring Arbor, Spring Arbor is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Spring Arbor are $31,080 per year.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Spring Arbor University Report
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University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #6 on the list. UW Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW Oshkosh are $15,306 a year. While working on their degree, communications majors at UW Oshkosh accumulate an average of around $26,610 in student debt.
UW Oshkosh also claimed a spot on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Report
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University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. 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. Communications majors at UW - Whitewater take out an average of $26,000 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $260.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UW - Whitewater also did well on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Report
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University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #8 on the list. UW - La Crosse is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - La Crosse are $18,014 per year. While working on their degree, communications majors at UW - La Crosse accumulate an average of around $23,125 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $113, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - La Crosse also is in the top 5% of our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
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Northern Illinois University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. NIU is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb.
NIU undergraduate students pay an average of $14,738 in tuition and fees each year. Communications majors at NIU take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $199, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Northern Illinois University Report
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Central Michigan University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Central Michigan is a fairly large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Michigan are $13,094 per year. The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Central Michigan take out is $27,000. 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
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With a ranking of #11, University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the town of River Falls, UW - River Falls is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - River Falls are $15,661 per year. On average, communications graduates from UW - River Falls take out $20,939 in student loans while working on their degree.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - River Falls also is in the top 10% of our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - River Falls Report
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Sinclair Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Sinclair Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,076 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from Sinclair Community College carry an average student debtload of $15,410.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Sinclair Community College Report
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With a ranking of #13, University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. 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 is $26,188.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Parkside Report
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University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. UW - Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the distant 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. The average amount in student loans that communications majors at UW - Stevens Point take out is $25,000. 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
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With a ranking of #15, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the midsize city of Akron, University of Akron Main Campus is a public college with a fairly large student population.
University of Akron Main Campus undergraduate students pay an average of $11,880 in tuition and fees each year.
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Illinois State University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. Illinois State is a fairly large public school located in the midsize suburb of Normal.
Illinois State undergraduate students pay an average of $24,172 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from Illinois State carry an average student debtload of $19,500. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $242.
In addition to its great value ranking, Illinois State is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
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University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the small city of Eau Claire, UW - Eau Claire is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Eau Claire are $17,149 a year. After completing their degree, communications graduates from UW - Eau Claire carry an average student debtload of $22,500.
UW - Eau Claire excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
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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 Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Eastern Illinois University | Charleston, IL |
| 19 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus | Bowling Green, OH |
| 20 | University of Wisconsin - Green Bay | Green Bay, WI |
| 21 | Purdue University Northwest | Hammond, IN |
| 22 | Purdue University - Main Campus | West Lafayette, 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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