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.
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2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best value schools for communications majors pursuing a .
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.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Columbia are $27,786 per year.
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 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. After completing their degree, communications graduates from WIU carry an average student debtload of $28,032.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Western Illinois University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Youngstown State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Youngstown State University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,732 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Communication & Media Studies at Youngstown State University Report
Out of the 114 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the # 4 spot on the list. SIUE is a large public school located in the large suburb of Edwardsville.
SIUE undergraduate students pay an average of $11,496 in tuition and fees each 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.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Spring Arbor University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Spring Arbor, Spring Arbor is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Spring Arbor undergraduate students pay an average of $31,080 in tuition and fees each year.
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 small city of Oshkosh.
UW Oshkosh undergraduate students pay an average of $15,306 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, communications majors at UW Oshkosh accumulate an average of around $26,610 in student debt.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW Oshkosh also is in the top 20% of our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Report
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. UW - Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Whitewater are $16,602 per 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.
UW - Whitewater 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.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. 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.
UW - La Crosse also claimed a spot on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
With a ranking of #9, Northern Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and media studies students. 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.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Northern Illinois University
Central Michigan University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Central Michigan is a fairly large public school located in the distant 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
University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #11 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. On average, communications graduates from UW - River Falls take out $20,939 in student loans while working on their degree.
UW - River Falls also claimed a spot on our Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - River Falls Report
Sinclair Community College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and media studies programs. Located in the midsize city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a public college 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
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 medium-sized 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.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Parkside
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Stevens Point are $17,035 per 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.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
University of Akron Main Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Akron, University of Akron Main Campus is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at University of Akron Main Campus are $11,880 per year.
Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Akron Main Campus Report
Illinois State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. 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. 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.
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 city of Eau Claire, UW - Eau Claire is a public school with a large student population.
UW - Eau Claire undergraduate students pay an average of $17,149 in tuition and fees each 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.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
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 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 schools 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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