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2023 Best Value Colleges for General Journalism (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

39 Ranked Colleges
1,518 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 39 colleges that offer 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general journalism program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Journalism (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 209 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $10,364 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Journalism at UW - Madison

2
IU Bloomington crest
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. IU Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 123 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

IU Bloomington also made our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $12,369 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. 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 more about General Journalism at Indiana University - Bloomington

3

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 53 ’s journalism 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 UIUC is $11,505 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. 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

4
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Oakland University landed the #4 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.

In addition to being on our great lakes region journalism students whose families make $48-$75k list, Oakland has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland University is $12,008 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 General Journalism at Oakland

5

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school awarded 42 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IUPUI, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,306 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis.

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 General Journalism at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

6
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

With a ranking of #6, Ball State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. 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 yearly cost to attend Ball State University is $15,158 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

7

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Ohio State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 46 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $13,273 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus General Journalism Report

8

Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 28 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

SIUC also took the #16 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $14,499 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about General Journalism at SIUC

9
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

With a ranking of #9, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Central Michigan University is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Central Michigan also took the #20 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan University is $15,720 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 full report on General Journalism at Central Michigan

10
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 111 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $20,557 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full Michigan State University General Journalism Report

11

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 55 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Whitewater also made our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $14,226 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about General Journalism at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

12
Indiana University - Southeast crest
Indiana University - Southeast
New Albany, Indiana

With a ranking of #12, Indiana University - Southeast did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Indiana University - Southeast is a small school located in New Albany, Indiana that handed out 13 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Southeast is $12,931 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Indiana University - Southeast General Journalism Report

13

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.

UW Oshkosh also took the #25 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW Oshkosh is $14,157 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about General Journalism at UW Oshkosh

14

University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in River Falls, Wisconsin, and it awarded 3 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $14,528 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 University of Wisconsin - River Falls General Journalism Report

15

Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. OHIO Athens is located in Athens, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 160 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OHIO Athens, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $23,509 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus.

Full Ohio University - Athens Campus General Journalism Report

16
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

With a ranking of #16, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Wayne State 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 University is $13,612 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Wayne State University General Journalism Report

17

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UW - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Eau Claire is $14,737 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about General Journalism at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

18

Kent State University at Kent landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Kent State University at Kent is located in Kent, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 74 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

Kent State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Kent State is $19,508 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about General Journalism at Kent State

19
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,675 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend EIU.

Read more about General Journalism at Eastern Illinois University

20

University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UIS is $11,492 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%.

Read full report on General Journalism at University of Illinois at Springfield

21

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UC is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 32 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

UC also made our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $20,867 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Cincinnati - Main Campus.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on General Journalism at UC

22

Miami University - Oxford came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

Miami University - Oxford also took the #6 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $23,513 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Miami University - Oxford.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 Miami University - Oxford

23
USI crest
University of Southern Indiana
Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Evansville, Indiana, this medium-sized public school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for USI is $14,486 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%.

Read more about General Journalism at USI

24
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

With a ranking of #24, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Eastern Michigan University is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Eastern Michigan is $14,547 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on General Journalism at Eastern Michigan

25

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is located in Bowling Green, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend BGSU is $18,606 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Bowling Green State University - Main Campus General Journalism Report

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