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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

26 Ranked Colleges
1,555 Degrees Awarded
$18,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Communication & Media Studies is the 74th most popular major in the country with 10,951 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,659 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,555 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 26 colleges that offer a degree in communication and media studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent communication and media studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the communication and media studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 38 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $15,880 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#2

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 470 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $13,253 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Communication & Media Studies Report

#3

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 26 schools in the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Michigan State is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 262 bachelors’s media studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid list, Michigan State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $19,173 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Michigan State

#8 in overall quality

Out of the 26 schools in the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #4 spot on the list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 152 students in 2019-2020.

UWM also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for UWM is $17,876 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UWM

#5

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois
#21 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Governors State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. University Park, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

GSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Governors State University is $12,077 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at GSU

#6

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana
#24 in overall quality

Indiana University - South Bend did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Indiana University - South Bend is located in South Bend, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s media studies degrees to qualified students.

Indiana University - South Bend also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $8,717 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid per year to attend Indiana University - South Bend.

Full Indiana University - South Bend Communication & Media Studies Report

#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 77 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUE, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $14,423 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students with aid.

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Communication & Media Studies Report

#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UM Dearborn, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Dearborn is $11,473 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Michigan - Dearborn Communication & Media Studies Report

#9

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of Southern Indiana did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Evansville, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

USI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern Indiana is $13,437 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Southern Indiana Communication & Media Studies Report

#25 in overall quality

Miami University - Hamilton landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Miami University - Hamilton is a small school located in Hamilton, Ohio that handed out 1 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Hamilton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Hamilton is $11,559 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid.

Full Miami University - Hamilton Communication & Media Studies Report

#11

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

Illinois State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Illinois State is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 67 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State is $20,895 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Illinois State University

#19 in overall quality

Wright State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Wright State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Dayton, Ohio. It awarded 19 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wright State University - Main Campus, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $16,823 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid per year to attend Wright State University - Main Campus.

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

#13

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

University of St Francis landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Joliet, Illinois, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid list, University of Saint Francis has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,538 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid per year to attend University of St Francis.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Saint Francis

#14

Rochester University

Rochester Hills, Michigan
#23 in overall quality

Rochester University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. Rochester University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 17 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

RU also took the #23 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for RU is $17,029 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students with aid.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at RU

#10 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. OHIO Athens is a large public school situated in Athens, Ohio. It awarded 3 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OHIO Athens, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus is $22,906 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at OHIO Athens

#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Miami University - Oxford did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 62 bachelors’s media studies degrees to qualified students.

Miami University - Oxford also took the #9 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Oxford is $24,323 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Miami University - Oxford

#17

Otterbein University

Westerville, Ohio
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Otterbein University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Westerville, Ohio, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Otterbein also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Otterbein University is $23,386 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Otterbein

#18

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Olivet Nazarene is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bourbonnais, Illinois. It awarded 14 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Olivet Nazarene not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Olivet Nazarene University is $20,195 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Olivet Nazarene

#19

Heidelberg University

Tiffin, Ohio
#16 in overall quality

Heidelberg University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Tiffin, Ohio, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Heidelburg College also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend Heidelburg College is $20,893 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Heidelberg University

#20

Saint Norbert College

De Pere, Wisconsin
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, Saint Norbert College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in De Pere, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 28 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s media studies students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SNC, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SNC is $26,340 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at SNC

#21

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois

North Park University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $19,170 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid per year to attend North Park.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at North Park

#22 in overall quality

Trinity International University - Illinois landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Trinity International University - Illinois is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Deerfield, Illinois. It awarded 11 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid list, TIU Illinois has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for TIU Illinois is $21,204 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Trinity International University - Illinois Communication & Media Studies Report

#15 in overall quality

Baldwin Wallace University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Berea, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Baldwin Wallace College, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Baldwin Wallace College is $22,917 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Baldwin Wallace University

#24

Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#6 in overall quality

Marquette University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students with aid list, Marquette has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Marquette University is $29,756 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Marquette Communication & Media Studies Report

#25

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #25, DePaul University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. DePaul is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 128 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

DePaul also took the #11 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $30,090 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students with aid per year to attend DePaul.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at DePaul

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Notes and References

References

  • 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 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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