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2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois

49 Ranked Colleges
3,167 Degrees Awarded
$33,048 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Communication & Journalism is the 11th most popular major in the country with 116,994 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. In , communication & journalism graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $34,306 and had an average of $24,240 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 4,241 communication & journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,627 and $25,445 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 3,167 communication & journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,374 and $23,086 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois” ranking looked at 49 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in communication & journalism. That schools that top this list have a program in communication & journalism in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois” list to help you make the college 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. 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.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois”.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism in Illinois

1
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Out of the 49 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia College Chicago landed the #1 spot on the list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communication & journalism degrees to 121 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Columbia College Chicago Communication & Journalism Report

2
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Principia College
Elsah, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Principia College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. Principia College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elsah, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Principia College

3
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Augustana College
Rock Island, Illinois

Out of the 49 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Augustana College landed the #3 spot on the list. This small school is located in Rock Island, Illinois, and it awarded 51 bachelors’s communication & journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 Augustana College Communication & Journalism Report

4
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DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend DePaul University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 324 bachelors’s communication & journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 full report on Communication & Journalism at DePaul

5
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Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois

Out of the 49 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Bradley University landed the #5 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Peoria, Illinois, and it awarded 88 bachelors’s communication & journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

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 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Bradley

6

With a ranking of #6, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. Illinois State University is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 266 bachelors’s communication & journalism degrees to qualified students.

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 full report on Communication & Journalism at Illinois State

7
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Monmouth College
Monmouth, Illinois

With a ranking of #7, Monmouth College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. Monmouth College is located in Monmouth, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s communication & journalism degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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 full report on Communication & Journalism at Monmouth

8

Western Illinois University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. Located in Macomb, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 75 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communication & journalism students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at WIU

9
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Eureka College
Eureka, Illinois

With a ranking of #9, Eureka College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. Eureka College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Eureka, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Eureka College

10
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 99 bachelors’s communication & journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Eastern Illinois University

11
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Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, Illinois

Trinity Christian College ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. Palos Heights, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communication & journalism degrees to 4 students in 2021-2022.

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. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Trinity Christian

12
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Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #12, Loyola University Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 234 bachelors’s communication & journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Loyola University Chicago Communication & Journalism Report

13
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Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University ranked #13 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 343 bachelors’s communication & journalism degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 99%. 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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.1% 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 Communication & Journalism at Northwestern University

14

Northern Illinois University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 133 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Northern Illinois University

15
Olivet Nazarene crest
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. Located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 53 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communication & journalism students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Olivet Nazarene University Communication & Journalism Report

16
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Blackburn College
Carlinville, Illinois

Blackburn College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois ranking. Carlinville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communication & journalism degrees to 3 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.

Full Blackburn Communication & Journalism Report

17

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois ranking. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication & journalism degrees to 573 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, 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 93%.

Full UIUC Communication & Journalism Report

18
Lake Forest crest
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, Illinois

Lake Forest College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois ranking. Lake Forest is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lake Forest, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 Lake Forest College

19
North Central crest
North Central College
Naperville, Illinois

North Central College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #19. North Central is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Naperville, Illinois. It awarded 22 bachelors’s communication & journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Full North Central College Communication & Journalism Report

20
CSU crest
Chicago State University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #20, Chicago State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small public school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communication & journalism students in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at CSU

21

University of Illinois at Springfield ranked #21 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. University of Illinois at Springfield is located in Springfield, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 34 bachelors’s communication & journalism degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 University of Illinois at Springfield Communication & Journalism Report

22
Wheaton College Illinois crest
Wheaton College Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois

Wheaton College Illinois landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois ranking. Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wheaton, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 35 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Wheaton College Illinois

23

With a ranking of #23, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 69 bachelors’s communication & journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at SIUC

24
North Park crest
North Park University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #24, North Park University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communication & journalism degrees to 15 students in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at North Park University

25

Northeastern Illinois University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 57 bachelors’s communication & journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Northeastern Illinois University

Notes and References

References

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