2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k
112
Ranked Colleges
17,907
Degrees Awarded
$8,400
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Communication & Journalism is the 11th most popular major in the country with 120,571 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, communication and journalism graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,266 and had an average of $24,758 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 17,907 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,371 and $25,050 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 112 colleges that offer a degree in communication and journalism. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent communication and 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 communication and journalism program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
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 Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Journalism (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 823 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $917 for great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, 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 97%.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Northwestern University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 277 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
U-M also took the #2 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $5,670 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 803 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,788 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UW - Madison.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Out of the 112 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 391 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.
Purdue also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Purdue is $5,853 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. 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 & Journalism at Purdue University - Main Campus
Out of the 112 schools in the Best Value Communication & 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 #5 spot on the list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school awarded 593 degrees to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $7,061 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University - Bloomington.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Indiana University - Bloomington
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 627 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.
UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $8,036 for great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 Communication & Journalism at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 656 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Communication & 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 communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 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 Communication & Journalism at Ohio State University - Main Campus
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 255 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $8,216 for Great Lakes Region Communication & 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%.
Full IUPUI Communication & Journalism Report
With a ranking of #9, Oakland University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 196 diplomas to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Oakland is $8,839 for Great Lakes Region Communication & 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%.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at Oakland University
With a ranking of #10, Ball State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 521 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Ball State also took the #18 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ball State University is $10,786 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 full report on Communication & Journalism at Ball State
Michigan State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school awarded 1,336 diplomas to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $15,170 for great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%.
Full Michigan State Communication & Journalism Report
With a ranking of #12, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 116 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,825 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
With a ranking of #13, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 55 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UM Dearborn is $10,465 for great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 UM Dearborn Communication & Journalism Report
With a ranking of #14, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 81 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,075 for great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UW - La Crosse.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 126 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $11,351 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at University of Illinois at Chicago
With a ranking of #16, Sinclair Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 48 degrees to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Sinclair Community College is $4,227 for great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Sinclair Community College
Indiana University - Kokomo came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Kokomo, Indiana, this small public school awarded 24 degrees to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend IU Kokomo is $6,875 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at IU Kokomo
Indiana University - South Bend ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in South Bend, Indiana, and it awarded 43 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - South Bend is $6,544 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Indiana University - South Bend Communication & Journalism Report
University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. River Falls, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 114 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $9,478 for great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 Communication & Journalism at UW - River Falls
Denison University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Denison is located in Granville, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 48 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.
Denison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,686 for great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Denison University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at Denison University
Indiana University - East came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. IU East is located in Richmond, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 42 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - East is $6,831 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full IU East Communication & Journalism Report
Purdue University Northwest landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Purdue University Northwest is a public institution located in Hammond, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 75 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,608 for great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Purdue Northwest.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Purdue University Northwest
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 172 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $10,390 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at UW - Whitewater
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a fairly large school located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin that handed out 122 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Eau Claire is $10,658 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full UW - Eau Claire Communication & Journalism Report
University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. UW - Parkside is a small public school situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It awarded 49 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Parkside is $8,022 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at UW - Parkside
