2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Communication & Journalism School for You
Communication & Journalism is the #11 most popular major in the country with 120,571 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best 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 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 129 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which programs offered the best value experiences for communication and journalism students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. 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.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 15% Best Communication & Journalism Schools
Our analysis found Franklin University to be the best value school for communication and journalism students who want to pursue a degree in the Great Lakes Region . Franklin University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Columbus.
Franklin University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,577 in tuition and fees each year. Communication & Journalism majors at Franklin University take out an average of $40,666 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Out of the 129 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 fairly 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. The average amount in student loans that communication and journalism majors at SIUE take out is $22,203. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $198, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Illinois University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the town of Macomb, WIU is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WIU are $13,297 a year. While working on their degree, communication and journalism majors at WIU accumulate an average of around $27,016 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $239.
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Out of the 129 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 town of Whitewater.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Whitewater are $16,602 a year. After completing their degree, communication and journalism graduates from UW - Whitewater carry an average student debtload of $25,937. 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 & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Communication & Journalism at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Report
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Purdue University Global. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the small city of Indianapolis.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Purdue University Global are $14,436 a year. The average amount in student loans that communication and journalism majors at Purdue University Global take out is $48,419.
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With a ranking of #6, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and journalism students. UW - La Crosse is a large public school located in the small city of La Crosse.
UW - La Crosse undergraduate students pay an average of $18,014 in tuition and fees each year. On average, communication and journalism graduates from UW - La Crosse take out $23,125 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $113, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
UW - La Crosse excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Full Communication & Journalism at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Report
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University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and journalism students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the town of River Falls, UW - River Falls is a public college 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. After completing their degree, communication and journalism graduates from UW - River Falls carry an average student debtload of $20,939.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - River Falls also is in the top 10% of our Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
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With a ranking of #8, Spring Arbor University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and journalism students. Located in the small suburb of Spring Arbor, Spring Arbor is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Spring Arbor are $31,080 per year.
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Northern Illinois University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. NIU is a fairly large public school located in the small 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 degree, communication and journalism graduates from NIU carry an average student debtload of $26,375. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $199, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and journalism students. It came in at #10 on the list. UW Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh.
UW Oshkosh undergraduate students pay an average of $15,306 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, communication and journalism graduates from UW Oshkosh carry an average student debtload of $25,739.
In addition to its great value ranking, UW Oshkosh is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
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Columbia College Chicago did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and journalism students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.
Columbia undergraduate students pay an average of $27,786 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, communication and journalism graduates from Columbia carry an average student debtload of $25,611. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $435, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Communication & Journalism at Columbia College Chicago Report
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Miami University - Hamilton landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and journalism programs. Miami University - Hamilton is a small public school located in the large suburb of Hamilton.
Miami University - Hamilton undergraduate students pay an average of $16,943 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that communication and journalism majors at Miami University - Hamilton take out is $24,153. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $511.
Miami University - Hamilton also claimed a spot on our Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
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Central Michigan University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and journalism programs. Central Michigan is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Central Michigan are $13,094 a year. After completing their degree, communication and journalism graduates from Central Michigan carry an average student debtload of $26,901. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $264.
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Baker College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for communication and journalism students. It came in at #14 on the list. Baker College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Owosso.
Baker College undergraduate students pay an average of $12,420 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that communication and journalism majors at Baker College take out is $15,875.
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Ferris State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ferris is a fairly large public school located in the town of Big Rapids.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Ferris are $13,188 per year. While working on their degree, communication and journalism majors at Ferris accumulate an average of around $24,500 in student debt.
Full Communication & Journalism at Ferris State University Report
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Youngstown State University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and journalism programs. Located in the small city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public college with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Youngstown State University are $9,732 a year.
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University of Akron Main Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the medium-sized 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. After completing their degree, communication and journalism graduates from University of Akron Main Campus carry an average student debtload of $27,407. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $374.
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University of Wisconsin - Parkside landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value communication and journalism programs. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Kenosha, UW - Parkside is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Parkside are $15,714 per year. On average, communication and journalism graduates from UW - Parkside take out $26,188 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full Communication & Journalism at University of Wisconsin - Parkside Report
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With a ranking of #19, Sinclair Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for communication and journalism students. Located in the midsize city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Sinclair Community College are $8,076 a year. Communication & Journalism majors at Sinclair Community College take out an average of $15,410 in student loans while working on their egree.
Request InformationAdditional 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 & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Eastern Illinois University | Charleston, IL |
| 20 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point | Stevens Point, WI |
| 22 | University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire | Eau Claire, WI |
| 23 | University of Wisconsin - Green Bay | Green Bay, WI |
| 24 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI |
| 25 | Illinois State University | Normal, IL |
Best Communication & Journalism Colleges by State
Explore the best communication and journalism schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Indiana | 2,714 |
| Michigan | 3,555 |
| Ohio | 3,901 |
| Illinois | 4,261 |
| Wisconsin | 1,988 |
More Communication & Journalism Rankings in the Great Lakes Region
Majors Related to Communication & Journalism
Communication & Journalism Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Communication & Media Studies | 66,787 |
| Public Relations & Advertising | 21,099 |
| Radio, Television & Digital Communication | 17,669 |
| Journalism | 13,552 |
| Communication & Journalism (Other) | 1,128 |
| Publishing | 336 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Communication & Journalism
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Education | 327,871 |
| Social Sciences | 205,984 |
| Psychology | 195,678 |
| Family, Consumer & Human Sciences | 55,820 |
| History | 32,731 |
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 Josh Hallett.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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