22
Ranked Colleges
1,528
Degrees Awarded
$19,200
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 10,266 people earned their degree in communication and media studies, making the major the 82nd most popular in the United States.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,528 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 22 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the communication and media studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region media studies students with aid.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 36 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $14,321 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools 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 ’s media studies degrees to 456 students in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $14,619 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, 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 undergraduate students.
Full Indiana University - Bloomington Communication & Media Studies Report
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #3 spot on the list. UW - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $17,234 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Communication & Media Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Michigan State is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 320 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $19,058 for great lakes region media studies students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 Michigan State University Communication & Media Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s media studies degrees to 104 students in 2020-2021.
UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $17,486 for great lakes region media studies students with aid.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UWM
With a ranking of #6, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 62 degrees to qualified ’s media studies students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region media studies students with aid list, SIUE has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,462 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students with aid per year to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Full SIUE Communication & Media Studies Report
Indiana University - South Bend ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Indiana University - South Bend is a small public school situated in South Bend, Indiana. It awarded 7 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region media studies students with aid list, Indiana University - South Bend has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - South Bend is $9,646 for great lakes region media studies students with aid.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Indiana University - South Bend
Illinois State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 71 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $20,830 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Illinois State
Governors State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. GSU is located in University Park, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s media studies degrees to qualified students.
GSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for GSU is $10,436 for great lakes region media studies students with aid.
Full GSU Communication & Media Studies Report
With a ranking of #10, University of Southern Indiana did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Southern Indiana is located in Evansville, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 ’s media studies degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region media studies students with aid list, USI has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,481 for great lakes region media studies students with aid per year to attend USI.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Southern Indiana Communication & Media Studies Report
Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. OHIO Athens is a large school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 14 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
OHIO Athens also took the #8 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend OHIO Athens is $23,831 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students with aid.
Full Ohio University - Athens Campus Communication & Media Studies Report
Miami University - Oxford came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Oxford, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 60 diplomas to qualified ’s media studies students in 2020-2021.
Miami University - Oxford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $24,756 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Miami University - Oxford
Wright State University - Main Campus came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Wright State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Dayton, Ohio. It awarded 25 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Wright State University - Main Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Wright State University - Main Campus is $15,962 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students with aid.
Full Wright State University - Main Campus Communication & Media Studies Report
Saint Norbert College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Saint Norbert College is a small school located in De Pere, Wisconsin that handed out 22 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
SNC also took the #11 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $26,612 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students with aid per year to attend SNC.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Saint Norbert College
Otterbein University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Westerville, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s media studies degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
Otterbein not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Otterbein is $22,881 for great lakes region media studies students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Otterbein Communication & Media Studies Report
Heidelberg University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. Heidelburg College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Tiffin, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Heidelburg College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $21,579 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students with aid per year to attend Heidelberg University.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Heidelberg University
Olivet Nazarene University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Olivet Nazarene is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Olivet Nazarene did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $19,470 for great lakes region media studies students with aid per year to attend Olivet Nazarene University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Olivet Nazarene University
Trinity International University - Illinois ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Deerfield, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 5 degrees to qualified ’s media studies students in 2020-2021.
TIU Illinois also took the #18 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend TIU Illinois is $21,200 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students with aid.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full TIU Illinois Communication & Media Studies Report
With a ranking of #19, DePaul University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 129 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region media studies students with aid list, DePaul has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePaul University is $31,174 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at DePaul
Rochester University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Rochester University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 23 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
RU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $17,003 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students with aid per year to attend RU.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at RU
University of St Francis ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Saint Francis is located in Joliet, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s media studies degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Saint Francis, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of St Francis is $17,102 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Saint Francis Communication & Media Studies Report
Denison University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Granville, Ohio, and it awarded 48 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Denison, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Denison is $29,597 for great lakes region media studies students with aid.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Denison
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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
- *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.
Credits