2023 Best Value Colleges for General Journalism (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
39
Ranked Colleges
1,518
Degrees Awarded
$11,400
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 has developed its “Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
General Journalism is the 69th most popular major in the country with 11,380 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,518 general journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 39 colleges that offered a degree in general journalism. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general journalism 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 general journalism program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank General Journalism Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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 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 Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Journalism (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 209 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
UW - Madison also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $4,788 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about General Journalism at UW - Madison
Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #2 spot on the list. IU Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 123 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,061 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University - Bloomington.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 General Journalism at Indiana University - Bloomington
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 53 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC also made our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $8,036 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read more about General Journalism at UIUC
Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #4 spot on the list. IUPUI is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 42 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
IUPUI also made our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for IUPUI is $8,216 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 full report on General Journalism at IUPUI
Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Oakland University landed the #5 spot on the list. Oakland is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 29 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Oakland did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland University is $8,839 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 more about General Journalism at Oakland University
Ball State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ball State University is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 68 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Ball State also took the #8 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State is $10,786 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 General Journalism at Ball State University
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 46 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $8,581 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Ohio State General Journalism Report
Michigan State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 111 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, Michigan State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,170 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Michigan State.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Journalism at Michigan State University
Indiana University - Southeast landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in New Albany, Indiana, this small public school awarded 13 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,556 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University - Southeast.
Full Indiana University - Southeast General Journalism Report
Central Michigan University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 19 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Central Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan University is $12,346 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Journalism at Central Michigan University
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a fairly large public school situated in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It awarded 55 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW - Whitewater has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,390 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater.
Read full report on General Journalism at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a public institution located in River Falls, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $9,478 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%.
Full UW - River Falls General Journalism Report
Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. SIUC is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
SIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $12,226 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SIUC.
Read more about General Journalism at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Miami University - Oxford did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large school located in Oxford, Ohio that handed out 37 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Miami University - Oxford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $16,062 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Miami University - Oxford.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. 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%.
Read full report on General Journalism at Miami University - Oxford
Kent State University at Kent came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Kent State is located in Kent, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 74 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, Kent State has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,021 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Kent State.
Read more about General Journalism at Kent State
University of Southern Indiana came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Southern Indiana is a public institution located in Evansville, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,440 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Southern Indiana.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.
Read full report on General Journalism at University of Southern Indiana
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a public institution located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Eau Claire is $10,658 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire General Journalism Report
Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. OHIO Athens is a large public school situated in Athens, Ohio. It awarded 160 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
OHIO Athens also made our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio University - Athens Campus is $18,991 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on General Journalism at OHIO Athens
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #19. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
UW Oshkosh also made our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #25. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is $10,457 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on General Journalism at UW Oshkosh
University of Illinois at Springfield ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Springfield, Illinois, and it awarded 4 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,482 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Illinois at Springfield.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UIS General Journalism Report
Wayne State University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Wayne State University is a large public school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 29 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Wayne State is $11,414 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on General Journalism at Wayne State University
Eastern Illinois University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. EIU is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Illinois University is $10,056 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Eastern Illinois University General Journalism Report
Augustana College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Rock Island, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, Augustana has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $18,937 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Augustana College.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Journalism at Augustana
Western Michigan University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.
WMU also made our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #21. The estimated yearly cost for WMU is $15,552 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about General Journalism at WMU
With a ranking of #25, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 29 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Illinois State also took the #24 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,982 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Illinois State University.
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 General Journalism at Illinois State University
