2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region
113
Ranked Colleges
17,907
Degrees Awarded
$15,100
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 120,571 people earned their degree in communication and journalism, making the major the 11th most popular in the United States. 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” ranking, we looked at 113 colleges that offer a degree in communication and journalism. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality communication and journalism programs that also have a lower cost than 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Journalism in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region. SIUE is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 116 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $14,462 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Out of the 113 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #2 spot on the list. UW - Whitewater is a fairly large public school situated in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It awarded 172 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,417 for great lakes region communication & journalism students per year to attend UW - Whitewater.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at UW - Whitewater
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. La Crosse, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 81 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,654 for great lakes region communication & journalism students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central Michigan University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 302 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan University is $16,007 for great lakes region communication & journalism students.
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 & Journalism at Central Michigan
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This medium-sized school is located in River Falls, Wisconsin, and it awarded 114 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,844 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 122 diplomas to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $16,051 for great lakes region communication & journalism students.
Full UW - Eau Claire Communication & Journalism Report
Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 391 students in 2020-2021.
Purdue also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $13,377 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at Purdue
Northern Illinois University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 191 degrees to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend NIU is $13,956 for great lakes region communication & journalism students.
Full NIU Communication & Journalism Report
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Stevens Point, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 87 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,346 for great lakes region communication & journalism students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at UW - Stevens Point
Ferris State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. Ferris State University is located in Big Rapids, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $12,213 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students per year to attend Ferris State University.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Ferris
Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Athens, Ohio, this large public school awarded 638 diplomas to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.
OHIO Athens also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus is $23,831 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at OHIO Athens
With a ranking of #12, Grand Valley State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school handed out 328 degrees to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $17,356 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students per year to attend GVSU.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full GVSU Communication & Journalism Report
With a ranking of #13, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Illinois State is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 344 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State University is $20,830 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students.
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 & Journalism at Illinois State University
With a ranking of #14, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a fairly large public school situated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It awarded 138 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is $14,687 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 112 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for WIU is $15,305 for great lakes region communication & journalism students.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at WIU
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 230 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
UWM also took the #22 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $17,486 for great lakes region communication & journalism students.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Western Michigan University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. WMU is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 161 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend WMU is $20,371 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students.
Full WMU Communication & Journalism Report
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 124 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $16,285 for great lakes region communication & journalism students per year to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at SIUC
With a ranking of #19, Franklin University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Franklin University is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $7,201 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students per year to attend Franklin University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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%.
Full Franklin University Communication & Journalism Report
With a ranking of #20, Purdue University Northwest did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue University Northwest is a medium-sized school located in Hammond, Indiana that handed out 75 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Purdue Northwest is $11,384 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at Purdue Northwest
Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 108 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend EIU is $13,098 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at EIU
With a ranking of #22, University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and it awarded 49 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Parkside is $11,082 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students.
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 University of Wisconsin - Parkside Communication & Journalism Report
Eastern Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 188 degrees to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Michigan University is $15,127 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at Eastern Michigan
With a ranking of #24, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Kent, Ohio, and it awarded 362 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $19,117 for great lakes region communication & journalism students per year to attend Kent State.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Kent State
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is a medium-sized public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 45 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $13,092 for great lakes region communication & journalism students.
Full UW - Green Bay Communication & Journalism Report
