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Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

211 Colleges
$35,036 Avg Salary
$25,485 Avg Student Debt

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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This report analyzed 211 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Communication & Media Studies program at each school on the list.

Check out the communications programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the Great Lakes Region .

Our analysis found Ohio State University - Main Campus to be the most popular school for communication and media studies students who want to pursue a degree in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the large city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, communications majors at Ohio State accumulate an average of around $24,400 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $286.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Ohio State University - Main Campus Report

#2

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Michigan State University is a great place for communication and media studies students. Michigan State is a fairly large public school located in the city of East Lansing.

The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Michigan State take out is $27,000. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $444, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Indiana University - Bloomington is a great place for communication and media studies students. IU Bloomington is a fairly large public school located in the city of Bloomington.

Communications majors at IU Bloomington take out an average of $23,251 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $534.

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#4

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

Out of the 211 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the small city of West Lafayette, Purdue is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Communications majors at Purdue take out an average of $19,500 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $368, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Purdue University - Main Campus

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of Wisconsin - Madison is a great place for communication and media studies students. Located in the large city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public school with a very large student population.

On average, communications graduates from UW - Madison take out $23,250 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $432.

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With a ranking of #6, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public school with a very large student population.

Communications majors at UIUC take out an average of $19,176 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $296.

Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Report

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the distant town of Athens, OHIO Athens is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, communications graduates from OHIO Athens carry an average student debt load of $23,250. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $377.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Ohio University - Athens Campus

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Cincinnati.

On average, communications graduates from UC take out $21,925 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $278.

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University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular communication and media studies programs. Located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public school with a very large student population.

On average, communications graduates from U-M take out $19,000 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $435, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Communication & Media Studies at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Report

Illinois State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #10 on the list. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Normal.

On average, communications graduates from Illinois State take out $19,500 in student loans while working on their 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.

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University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the city of Milwaukee, UWM is a public college with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, communications graduates from UWM carry an average student debt load of $27,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $234.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#12

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

Northwestern University ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, communications majors at Northwestern accumulate an average of around $18,366 in student debt.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Northwestern University Report

Kent State University at Kent landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular communication and media studies programs. Kent State is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent.

The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Kent State take out is $26,098. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $285.

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Northern Illinois University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #14 on the list. NIU is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb.

On average, communications graduates from NIU take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree. 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

#15

DePaul University

Chicago, IL

DePaul University ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Chicago, DePaul is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.

Communications majors at DePaul take out an average of $22,500 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $389.

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#16

University of Dayton

Dayton, OH

With a ranking of #16, University of Dayton did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the city of Dayton, UDayton is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

Communications majors at UDayton take out an average of $26,000 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $471.

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#17

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, MI

Oakland University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Communications majors at Oakland take out an average of $26,000 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $195.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Oakland University Report

#18

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI

Eastern Michigan University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #18 on the list. Eastern Michigan is a large public school located in the large suburb of Ypsilanti.

The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Eastern Michigan take out is $27,500. 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

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UIC is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Chicago.

The average amount in student loans that communications majors at UIC take out is $18,122. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $274, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Whitewater is a fairly large public school located in the town of Whitewater.

The average amount in student loans that communications majors at UW - Whitewater take out is $26,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $260.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. SIUE is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville.

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.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Report

Grand Valley State University ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Allendale, GVSU is a public college with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, communications graduates from GVSU carry an average student debt load of $25,250. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $174.

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Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in the large city of Indianapolis, IUPUI is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, communications graduates from IUPUI carry an average student debt load of $23,874.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Report

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular 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.

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

#24

Ball State University

Muncie, IN

Ball State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the small city of Muncie, Ball State is a public college with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, communications graduates from Ball State carry an average student debt load of $21,500. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $301.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Ball State University Report

#26

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI
#28

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI
#30

Wayne State University

Detroit, MI

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
32 Western Illinois University Macomb, IL
33 Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN
34 DePauw University Greencastle, IN
35 John Carroll University University Heights, OH
36 Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH
37 Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OH
38 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI
39 University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI
40 Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL
41 University of Wisconsin - Parkside Kenosha, WI
42 University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College Blue Ash, OH
42 Denison University Granville, OH
42 University of Toledo Toledo, OH

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

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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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