101
Ranked Colleges
9,064
Degrees Awarded
$7,400
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 66,787 communication and media studies students received their degree, making the major the 10th most popular in the country. In 2019-2020, communication and media studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,115 and had an average of $25,414 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 9,064 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,036 and $25,485 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 101 colleges that offered a degree in communication and media studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality communication and media studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the communication and media studies program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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 Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 207 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northwestern has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $245 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwestern University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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 Northwestern University Communication & Media Studies Report
Out of the 101 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 277 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $2,670 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Out of the 101 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #3 spot on the list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 334 students in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $3,981 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Madison.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 UW - Madison Communication & Media Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 327 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,858 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UIUC
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 458 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $5,752 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Indiana University - Bloomington
Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Purdue University - Main Campus is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 391 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Purdue also took the #6 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $5,995 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Purdue
Michigan State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 543 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan State also took the #5 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $6,927 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Michigan State
Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 580 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State also took the #8 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,068 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Communication & Media Studies Report
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. IUPUI is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 90 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for IUPUI is $7,026 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Oakland University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. This fairly large school is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 144 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Oakland University is $8,949 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Oakland University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 116 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $8,047 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a fairly large school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin that handed out 81 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - La Crosse is $7,517 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad 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%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Ball State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ball State is located in Muncie, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 87 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Ball State University is $8,273 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Ball State Communication & Media Studies Report
University of Michigan - Dearborn landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 33 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Dearborn is $9,113 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Michigan - Dearborn
Indiana University - Kokomo did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Kokomo, Indiana, this small public school awarded 18 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Kokomo is $5,506 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at IU Kokomo
With a ranking of #16, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 126 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,549 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UIC Communication & Media Studies Report
University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in River Falls, Wisconsin, and it awarded 47 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - River Falls is $8,438 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wisconsin - River Falls Communication & Media Studies Report
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 117 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
UW - Whitewater also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $8,143 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Whitewater.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
University of Wisconsin - Parkside landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW - Parkside is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 49 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Parkside is $6,741 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Parkside
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Eau Claire, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 55 students in 2020-2021.
UW - Eau Claire also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $9,547 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Indiana University - South Bend did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. This small school is located in South Bend, Indiana, and it awarded 24 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - South Bend is $5,504 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Indiana University - South Bend
Sinclair Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Sinclair Community College is a public institution located in Dayton, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,594 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Sinclair Community College.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Sinclair Community College
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 289 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UC is $15,061 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
Purdue University Northwest came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Purdue Northwest is a medium-sized school located in Hammond, Indiana that handed out 75 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,775 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Purdue University Northwest.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Purdue Northwest
DePauw University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. DePauw University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Greencastle, Indiana. It awarded 66 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, DePauw has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for DePauw University is $19,503 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full DePauw Communication & Media Studies Report
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