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2023 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

22 Ranked Colleges
1,528 Degrees Awarded
$12,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 10,266 people earned their degree in communication and media studies, making the major the 82nd most popular in the United States.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,528 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered a degree in communication and media studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality communication and media studies 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 media studies 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.

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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 “Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college 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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 22 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

1

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified ’s media studies students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $3,981 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Madison

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s media studies degrees to 36 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $4,858 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 456 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $5,752 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

Full IU Bloomington Communication & Media Studies Report

4
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s media studies degrees to 320 students in 2020-2021.

Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $6,927 for great lakes region media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Michigan State University

5

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #5 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 62 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

SIUE also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $8,047 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SIUE.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

6

Indiana University - South Bend came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University - South Bend is a small public school situated in South Bend, Indiana. It awarded 7 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Indiana University - South Bend also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - South Bend is $5,504 for great lakes region media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Indiana University - South Bend Communication & Media Studies Report

7

Illinois State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school handed out 71 diplomas to qualified ’s media studies students in 2020-2021.

Illinois State also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State University is $13,783 for great lakes region media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 Communication & Media Studies at Illinois State

8

Miami University - Oxford ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large school located in Oxford, Ohio that handed out 60 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Miami University - Oxford, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $13,956 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Miami University - Oxford Communication & Media Studies Report

9

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 104 diplomas to qualified ’s media studies students in 2020-2021.

UWM also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $11,973 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

10

University of Southern Indiana landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Southern Indiana is a medium-sized public school situated in Evansville, Indiana. It awarded 20 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

USI also took the #16 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,815 for great lakes region media studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Southern Indiana.

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 more about Communication & Media Studies at USI

11

With a ranking of #11, Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a large school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 14 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

OHIO Athens not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $17,614 for great lakes region media studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at OHIO Athens

12
Denison crest
Denison University
Granville, Ohio

Denison University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Denison is located in Granville, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 48 ’s media studies degrees to qualified students.

Denison also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Denison University is $15,242 for great lakes region media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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 0.8% 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 full report on Communication & Media Studies at Denison

13
GSU crest
Governors State University
University Park, Illinois

Governors State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Governors State University is a small public school situated in University Park, Illinois. It awarded 10 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

GSU also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend GSU is $8,629 for great lakes region media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Governors State University

14
Otterbein crest
Otterbein University
Westerville, Ohio

With a ranking of #14, Otterbein University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Westerville, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 5 degrees to qualified ’s media studies students in 2020-2021.

Otterbein did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $16,747 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Otterbein University.

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 Otterbein Communication & Media Studies Report

15

Wright State University - Main Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 25 degrees to qualified ’s media studies students in 2020-2021.

Wright State University - Main Campus also took the #17 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wright State University - Main Campus is $11,980 for great lakes region media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Wright State University - Main Campus Communication & Media Studies Report

16
SNC crest
Saint Norbert College
De Pere, Wisconsin

Saint Norbert College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in De Pere, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 22 diplomas to qualified ’s media studies students in 2020-2021.

SNC also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for SNC is $22,363 for great lakes region media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 & Media Studies at SNC

17
Olivet Nazarene crest
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Olivet Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Olivet Nazarene did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Olivet Nazarene is $16,451 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 Olivet Nazarene Communication & Media Studies Report

18

Heidelberg University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Tiffin, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified ’s media studies students in 2020-2021.

Heidelburg College also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Heidelberg University is $16,007 for great lakes region media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Heidelburg College

19
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #19, DePaul University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 129 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

DePaul also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend DePaul University is $27,123 for great lakes region media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at DePaul University

20

Trinity International University - Illinois landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Deerfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s media studies degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

TIU Illinois also took the #18 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend TIU Illinois is $17,670 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at TIU Illinois

21
RU crest
Rochester University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Rochester University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 23 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.

RU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Rochester University is $17,488 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Rochester University

22
University of Saint Francis crest
University of St Francis
Joliet, Illinois

University of St Francis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. University of Saint Francis is located in Joliet, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s media studies degrees to qualified students.

University of Saint Francis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Saint Francis is $13,722 for great lakes region media studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 St Francis Communication & Media Studies Report

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