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2022 Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in Illinois

13 Colleges in Illinois
203 Master's Degrees
$47,400 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you plan on getting your master's degree in communication and media studies, you won't be alone since the degree program is ranked #43 in the country in terms of popularity. As a result, there are many colleges that offer the degree, making your choice of school a hard one.

For its 2022 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools in Illinois to determine which ones were the most popular for communication and media studies students pursuing a master's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 203 master's degrees in communication and media studies to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Other Rankings

Choosing a Great Communication & Media Studies School for Your Master's Degree

Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in Illinois The communications master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. We created our Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in Illinois ranking to make it a little easier to choose the right one for you.

Being popular does not always equate to overall quality, but a school with a large number of communication and media studies students usually has them for a reason. Sometimes this is because the school offers a great educational experience, it is a good value, or it is highly focused on the program.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Bachelor's Degrees in Communications
Doctor's Degrees in Communications
Overall Popularity in Communications

This is not our only ranking, nor the only degree level we have ranked. In addition to this ranking, you may want to take at the rankings for different degree levels as called out above. You can also narrow your search by location by filtering for a certain area of the country. Plus, you can view our other rankings for communication and media studies.


 

The following list ranks the most popular colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in communication and media studies.

10 Most Well Attended Schools for Communications Students Working on Their Master's

1
83 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Best Quality In IL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

Northwestern University is one of the most popular schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in communication and media studies. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #1 in quality for master's degrees in communication and media studies in Illinois.

There were approximately 83 communication and media studies individuals who graduated with this degree at Northwestern in the most recent data year.

Master's recipients from the communication and media studies major at Northwestern University get $26,900 more than the average graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from Northwestern University

2
23 Annual Master's Degrees
#3 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at Illinois State University if you want to pursue a master's degree in communication and media studies. Illinois State is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Normal. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #3 in quality for master's degrees in communication and media studies in Illinois.

There were roughly 23 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State in the most recent year we have data available.

After graduation, communications master's recipients usually make about $42,900 in their early careers.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from Illinois State University

3
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
21 Annual Master's Degrees
#6 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Any student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in communication and media studies needs to check out DePaul University. DePaul is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Chicago. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #6 in quality for master's degrees in communication and media studies in Illinois.

There were roughly 21 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at DePaul in the most recent year we have data available.

After graduation, communications master's recipients generally earn around $45,000 in their early careers.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from DePaul University

4
15 Annual Master's Degrees
#8 Best Quality In IL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a popular choice for individuals pursuing a master's degree in communication and media studies. SIUC is a fairly large public university located in the city of Carbondale. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #8 in quality for master's degrees in communication and media studies in Illinois.

There were approximately 15 communication and media studies individuals who graduated with this degree at SIUC in the most recent data year.

Soon after graduation, communications master's recipients usually earn about $35,100 in their early careers.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from Southern Illinois University Carbondale

4
15 Annual Master's Degrees
#5 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Eastern Illinois University is a popular decision for students pursuing a master's degree in communication and media studies. Located in the town of Charleston, EIU is a public university with a medium-sized student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #5 in quality for master's degrees in communication and media studies in Illinois.

There were about 15 communication and media studies individuals who graduated with this degree at EIU in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from Eastern Illinois University

6
12 Annual Master's Degrees
#9 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

SIUE is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #9 in quality for master's degrees in communication and media studies in Illinois.

There were approximately 12 communication and media studies individuals who graduated with this degree at SIUE in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

7
GSU crest
Governors State University
University Park, IL
10 Annual Master's Degrees
#11 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the rural area of University Park, GSU is a public university with a small student population.

There were approximately 10 communication and media studies individuals who graduated with this degree at GSU in the most recent year we have data available.

Students who graduate with their master's from the communications program report average early career wages of $39,700.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from Governors State University

8
8 Annual Master's Degrees
#10 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the suburb of Dekalb, NIU is a public university with a large student population.

There were approximately 8 communication and media studies individuals who graduated with this degree at NIU in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from Northern Illinois University

9
6 Annual Master's Degrees
#7 Best Quality In IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

UIS is a small public university located in the midsize city of Springfield. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #7 in quality for master's degrees in communication and media studies in Illinois.

There were roughly 6 communication and media studies individuals who graduated with this degree at UIS in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from University of Illinois at Springfield

10
4 Annual Master's Degrees
#4 Best Quality In IL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the city of Chicago, UIC is a public university with a very large student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #4 in quality for master's degrees in communication and media studies in Illinois.

There were approximately 4 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at UIC in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from University of Illinois at Chicago

Best Communication & Media Studies Colleges in the Great Lakes Region

Explore all the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Michigan 203 122
Ohio 195 79
Indiana 181 321
Wisconsin 166 42

View All Rankings >

One of 5 majors within the Communication & Journalism area of study, Communication & Media Studies has other similar majors worth exploring.

Communications Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Speech Communication 144
Communications 27
Communication & Media Studies 19
Other Communication & Media Studies 13

Related Major Annual Graduates
Communication & Journalism (Other) 191
Journalism 153
Public Relations & Advertising 112
Radio, Television & Digital Communication 70

Notes and References

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