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2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k

101 Ranked Colleges
9,064 Degrees Awarded
$18,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 $75-$110k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Communication & Media Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 10th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 66,787 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 $75-$110k” ranking looked at 101 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

More Ways to Rank Communication & Media Studies Schools

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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 $75-$110k” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region communications students whose families make $75-$110k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 101 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 207 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,686 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Northwestern.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 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 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Northwestern University

2

Out of the 101 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k 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 also took the #2 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,207 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, 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 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Communication & Media Studies Report

3
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Out of the 101 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Purdue 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 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 estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $17,124 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $75-$110k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.

Full Purdue Communication & Media Studies Report

4
IU Bloomington crest
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k. IU Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 458 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $20,234 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend IU Bloomington.

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.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Communication & Media Studies Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k. 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 took the #3 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $22,377 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $75-$110k.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 UW - Madison Communication & Media Studies Report

6

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 327 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

UIUC also took the #4 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $22,400 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UIUC

7

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k 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. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $21,575 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, 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 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Ohio State

8
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. This fairly large school is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 144 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Oakland is $16,142 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $75-$110k.

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%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Oakland University

9

With a ranking of #9, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. UW - Whitewater is a fairly large school located in Whitewater, Wisconsin that handed out 117 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Whitewater did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Whitewater is $17,253 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

10

With a ranking of #10, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. University of Michigan - Dearborn is a public institution located in Dearborn, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 33 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $17,197 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UM Dearborn.

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 UM Dearborn

11

With a ranking of #11, Sinclair Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. This fairly large school is located in Dayton, Ohio, and it awarded 24 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Sinclair Community College is $7,355 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Sinclair Community College

12

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This fairly large school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 81 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,472 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

13

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. UW - Eau Claire is a fairly large school located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin that handed out 55 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Eau Claire also took the #23 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $18,816 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

14

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #14. This medium-sized school is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and it awarded 87 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Stevens Point is $16,503 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

15
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #15. 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 yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $25,297 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $75-$110k.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

16

University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 47 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UW - River Falls is $16,739 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $75-$110k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - River Falls

17

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 116 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $18,226 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at SIUE

18

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k 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.

It costs about $17,844 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend IUPUI.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 IUPUI

19

University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #19. UW - Parkside is a public institution located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 49 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Parkside is $15,198 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $75-$110k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 - Parkside Communication & Media Studies Report

20
Albion crest
Albion College
Albion, Michigan

Albion College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This small school is located in Albion, Michigan, and it awarded 31 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $20,128 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Albion College.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Albion College

21

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 54 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $17,169 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

22
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Central Michigan is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 82 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan is $18,135 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $75-$110k.

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 full report on Communication & Media Studies at Central Michigan University

23

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 222 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

UWM also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend UWM is $20,785 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UWM

24

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k 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.

UC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UC is $24,534 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, 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 88%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UC

25
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Ball State is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 87 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $19,563 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Ball State.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Ball State

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