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Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region

266 Colleges
$34,371 Avg Salary
$25,050 Avg Student Debt

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 help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 266 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Communication & Journalism program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for communication and journalism majors pursuing a .

#1

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

Our 2023 rankings named Michigan State University the most popular school in the Great Lakes Region for communication and journalism students. Michigan State is a fairly large public school located in the city of East Lansing.

After completing their degree, communication and journalism graduates from Michigan State carry an average student debt load of $26,374. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $454, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Michigan State University

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the small city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, communication and journalism majors at Northwestern accumulate an average of around $16,622 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 $842.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Northwestern University

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means University of Wisconsin - Madison is a great place for communication and journalism students. Located in the city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public college with a very large student population.

On average, communication and journalism graduates from UW - Madison take out $22,375 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.

Read More…

Out of the 266 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public school with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that communication and journalism majors at Ohio State take out is $21,286. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $286.

Full Communication & Journalism at Ohio State University - Main Campus Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the town of Athens, OHIO Athens is a public college with a very large student population.

On average, communication and journalism graduates from OHIO Athens take out $24,365 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $363, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Communication & Journalism at Ohio University - Athens Campus Report

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular communication and journalism programs. Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

On average, communication and journalism graduates from UIUC take out $19,725 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $306, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Communication & Journalism at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Report

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. IU Bloomington is a very large public school located in the small city of Bloomington.

On average, communication and journalism graduates from IU Bloomington take out $22,084 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $547, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#8

Ball State University

Muncie, IN

Ball State University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular communication and journalism programs. Located in the small city of Muncie, Ball State is a public school with a fairly large student population.

On average, communication and journalism graduates from Ball State take out $24,135 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 $305.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Ball State University

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular communication and journalism programs. UC is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati.

On average, communication and journalism graduates from UC take out $23,088 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $235, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#10

DePaul University

Chicago, IL

DePaul University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular communication and journalism programs. Located in the city of Chicago, DePaul is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

Communication & Journalism majors at DePaul take out an average of $23,833 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $469.

Read More…

#11

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular communication and journalism programs. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue is a public college with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, communication and journalism majors at Purdue accumulate an average of around $19,500 in student debt. 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 & Journalism at Purdue University - Main Campus

Miami University - Oxford landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular communication and journalism programs. Located in the fringe town of Oxford, Miami University - Oxford is a public school with a fairly large student population.

On average, communication and journalism graduates from Miami University - Oxford take out $24,472 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $467, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Miami University - Oxford

Kent State University at Kent did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and journalism students. It came in at #13 on the list. Kent State is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Kent.

After completing their degree, communication and journalism graduates from Kent State carry an average student debt load of $25,525. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $304, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Communication & Journalism at Kent State University at Kent Report

With a ranking of #14, Illinois State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and journalism students. Illinois State is a fairly large public school located in the midsize suburb of Normal.

While working on their degree, communication and journalism majors at Illinois State accumulate an average of around $22,080 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $251, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Illinois State University

Grand Valley State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and journalism students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Allendale, GVSU is a public college with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, communication and journalism majors at GVSU accumulate an average of around $26,474 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $244.

Full Communication & Journalism at Grand Valley State University Report

#16

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Central Michigan is a large public school located in the distant town of Mount Pleasant.

After completing their degree, communication and journalism graduates from Central Michigan carry an average student debt load of $26,901. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $264.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Central Michigan University

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular communication and journalism programs. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public college with a very large student population.

On average, communication and journalism 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.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Indianapolis, IUPUI is a public college with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, communication and journalism graduates from IUPUI carry an average student debt load of $24,842.

Read More…

Loyola University Chicago did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and journalism students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.

While working on their degree, communication and journalism majors at Loyola Chicago accumulate an average of around $23,407 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $649.

Full Communication & Journalism at Loyola University Chicago Report

With a ranking of #20, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and journalism students. Located in the city of Milwaukee, UWM is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Communication & Journalism majors at UWM take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $234.

Read More…

#21

Ohio Media School-Valley View

Valley View, OH

Ohio Media School-Valley View ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Valley View, Ohio Media School-Valley View is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Communication & Journalism majors at Ohio Media School-Valley View take out an average of $11,892 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $118, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Ohio Media School-Valley View

#22

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, MI

Oakland University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and journalism students. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland is a public college with a large student population.

On average, communication and journalism graduates from Oakland take out $24,144 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 $195.

Full Communication & Journalism at Oakland University Report

Northern Illinois University ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. NIU is a large public school located in the small suburb of Dekalb.

Communication & Journalism majors at NIU take out an average of $26,375 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 & Journalism at Northern Illinois University

#24

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI

Eastern Michigan University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and journalism students. It came in at #24 on the list. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti.

After completing their degree, communication and journalism graduates from Eastern Michigan carry an average student debt load of $27,086. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $128, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#24

Wayne State University

Detroit, MI

Wayne State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Wayne State is a very large public school located in the large city of Detroit.

After completing their degree, communication and journalism graduates from Wayne State carry an average student debt load of $30,905.

Full Communication & Journalism at Wayne State University Report

#26

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH
#27

Marquette University

Milwaukee, WI
#28

University of Dayton

Dayton, OH
#31

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI
#32

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, IL
#34

Ohio Media School-Cincinnati

Cincinnati, OH
#36

Purdue University Global

Indianapolis, IN

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 & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
40 Butler University Indianapolis, IN
41 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL
42 University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH
43 University of Wisconsin - River Falls River Falls, WI
44 Western Illinois University Macomb, IL
45 Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL
46 Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OH
47 Bradley University Peoria, IL
48 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI
49 University of Toledo Toledo, OH
49 Illinois Media School Lombard, IL
51 University of Wisconsin - La Crosse La Crosse, WI
52 University of Southern Indiana Evansville, IN
53 Purdue University Northwest Hammond, IN

Best Communication & Journalism Colleges by State

Explore the best communication and journalism colleges 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

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

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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