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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

26 Ranked Colleges
1,555 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Communication & Media Studies is the 74th most popular major in the country with 10,951 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,659 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,555 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 26 colleges that offered a degree in communication and media studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent communication and media studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the communication and media studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The media studies school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 26 schools in the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s 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 #1 spot on the list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 38 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $13,351 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, 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 students.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Communication & Media Studies Report

#2

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 26 schools in the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #2 spot on the list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 470 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $12,060 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at IU Bloomington

#3

Denison University

Granville, Ohio
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Denison University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Granville, Ohio, and it awarded 78 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Denison also took the #2 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $22,652 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Denison.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Denison University

#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 77 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUE also took the #12 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,705 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend SIUE.

Full SIUE Communication & Media Studies Report

#5

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Michigan State University is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 262 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $20,696 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Michigan State.

The low 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Michigan State

#17 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Dearborn came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Dearborn, Michigan, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UM Dearborn also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Dearborn is $10,553 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UM Dearborn Communication & Media Studies Report

#7

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana
#24 in overall quality

Indiana University - South Bend did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #7. Located in South Bend, Indiana, this small public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s media studies students in 2019-2020.

Indiana University - South Bend also took the #24 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - South Bend is $10,585 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Indiana University - South Bend

#8

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 67 students in 2019-2020.

Illinois State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $19,080 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Illinois State.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois State University Communication & Media Studies Report

#8 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 152 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $17,881 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

#10

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois
#21 in overall quality

Governors State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in University Park, Illinois, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

GSU also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend Governors State University is $11,872 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

#11

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana
#18 in overall quality

University of Southern Indiana came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Evansville, Indiana, this fairly large public school awarded 26 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s media studies students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USI, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend USI is $14,686 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Southern Indiana Communication & Media Studies Report

#12

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, University of St Francis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Joliet, Illinois, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, University of Saint Francis has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Saint Francis is $14,220 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Saint Francis

#13

Saint Norbert College

De Pere, Wisconsin
#5 in overall quality

Saint Norbert College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. De Pere, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, SNC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Norbert College is $23,111 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Saint Norbert College Communication & Media Studies Report

#25 in overall quality

Miami University - Hamilton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. Miami University - Hamilton is a public institution located in Hamilton, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Hamilton also took the #25 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Hamilton is $12,465 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Miami University - Hamilton Communication & Media Studies Report

#15

Rochester University

Rochester Hills, Michigan
#23 in overall quality

Rochester University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

RU also took the #23 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rochester University is $18,686 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Rochester University Communication & Media Studies Report

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Wright State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Wright State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Dayton, Ohio. It awarded 19 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wright State University - Main Campus, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wright State University - Main Campus is $16,908 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Wright State University - Main Campus

#17

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
#20 in overall quality

Olivet Nazarene University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, Olivet Nazarene has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Olivet Nazarene University is $17,841 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The 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 more about Communication & Media Studies at Olivet Nazarene University

#18

Heidelberg University

Tiffin, Ohio
#16 in overall quality

Heidelberg University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Heidelberg University is located in Tiffin, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s media studies degrees to qualified students.

Heidelburg College also took the #16 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Heidelburg College is $19,391 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Heidelburg College

#19

Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#6 in overall quality

Marquette University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Marquette did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $25,492 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Marquette.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Marquette

#20

Otterbein University

Westerville, Ohio
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, Otterbein University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Westerville, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s media studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, Otterbein has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Otterbein is $23,443 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Otterbein University Communication & Media Studies Report

#9 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large public school situated in Oxford, Ohio. It awarded 62 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Oxford is $23,232 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Miami University - Oxford

#10 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Athens, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $22,337 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend OHIO Athens.

Full OHIO Athens Communication & Media Studies Report

#22 in overall quality

Trinity International University - Illinois landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Deerfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s media studies degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

TIU Illinois also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $17,441 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend TIU Illinois.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 & Media Studies at Trinity International University - Illinois

#24

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois

North Park University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. North Park University is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 5 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for North Park is $18,813 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full North Park University Communication & Media Studies Report

#15 in overall quality

Baldwin Wallace University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Media Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #25. Baldwin Wallace University is a small school located in Berea, Ohio that handed out 6 bachelors’s media studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree media studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, Baldwin Wallace College has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Baldwin Wallace College is $21,118 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Media Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Baldwin Wallace College Communication & Media Studies Report

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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