by our College Data Analytics TeamWe've pulled together some essential information you should know about the program, including how many students graduate each year, the ethnic diversity of these students, average starting salaries, and more. Also, learn how Illinois State ranks among other schools offering degrees in communications.
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Illinois State was ranked #74 on College Factual's most recent list of the best schools for communications majors. This puts the bachelor's program at the school solidly in the top 15% of all colleges and universities in the country. It is also ranked #4 in Illinois.
During the 2021-2022 academic year, Illinois State University handed out 156 bachelor's degrees in communication & media studies. This is a decrease of 14% over the previous year when 182 degrees were handed out.
In 2022, 44 students received their master’s degree in communications from Illinois State. This makes it the #17 most popular school for communications master’s degree candidates in the country.
The median salary of communications students who receive their bachelor's degree at Illinois State is $38,125. This is great news for graduates of the program, since this figure is higher than the national average of $34,959 for all communications bachelor's degree recipients.
While getting their bachelor's degree at Illinois State, communications students borrow a median amount of $33,047 in student loans. This is higher than the the typical median of $27,493 for all communications majors across the country.
The typical student loan payment of a bachelor's degree student from the communications program at Illinois State is $273 per month.
During the 2022-2023 academic year, part-time undergraduate students at Illinois State paid an average of $804 per credit hour if they came to the school from out-of-state. In-state students paid a discounted rate of $402 per credit hour. The following table shows the average full-time tuition and fees for undergraduates.
| In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $11,000 | $20,358 |
| Fees | $3,121 | $3,121 |
| Books and Supplies | $830 | $830 |
| On Campus Room and Board | $11,584 | $11,584 |
| On Campus Other Expenses | $5,874 | $5,874 |
Learn more about Illinois State tuition and fees.
For the most recent academic year available, 47% of communications bachelor's degrees went to men and 53% went to women.
The majority of bachelor's degree recipients in this major at Illinois State are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 73% of students fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Illinois State University with a bachelor's in communications.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 3 |
| Black or African American | 13 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21 |
| White | 114 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 1 |
| Other Races | 4 |
Illinois State does not offer an online option for its communications bachelor’s degree program at this time. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the Illinois State Online Learning page.
Graduates of the master's communications program at Illinois State make a median salary of $45,215. This is less than what their typical peers from other schools make. Their median salary is $49,614.
Of the 19 students who graduated with a Master’s in communications from Illinois State in 2022, 37% were men and 63% were women.
The majority of master's degree recipients in this major at Illinois State are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 58% of students fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Illinois State University with a master's in communications.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 1 |
| Black or African American | 1 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3 |
| White | 11 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 2 |
| Other Races | 1 |
Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the communications majors at Illinois State University.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Relations & Advertising | 78 |
| Journalism | 32 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.