22
Ranked Colleges
1,528
Degrees Awarded
$19,200
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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” 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. 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 Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. 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.
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Media Studies Schools 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 Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 62 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region media studies students list, SIUE has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $14,462 for great lakes region media studies students.
Full SIUE Communication & Media Studies Report
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 8 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $17,234 for great lakes region media studies students.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. OHIO Athens is a large school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 14 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
OHIO Athens also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $23,831 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students per year to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at OHIO Athens
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s media studies degrees to 71 students in 2020-2021.
Illinois State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State is $20,830 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students.
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 & Media Studies at Illinois State
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region. UWM is a large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 104 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UWM is $17,486 for great lakes region media studies students.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Governors State University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in University Park, Illinois, this small public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified ’s media studies students in 2020-2021.
GSU also took the #19 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,436 for great lakes region media studies students per year to attend Governors State University.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at GSU
University of Southern Indiana ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Southern Indiana is a public institution located in Evansville, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
USI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,481 for great lakes region media studies students per year to attend USI.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at USI
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 36 diplomas to qualified ’s media studies students in 2020-2021.
UIUC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,321 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Wright State University - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Wright State University - Main Campus is located in Dayton, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s media studies degrees to qualified students.
Wright State University - Main Campus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,962 for great lakes region media studies students per year to attend Wright State University - Main Campus.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Wright State University - Main Campus
Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school handed out 456 diplomas to qualified ’s media studies students in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington also took the #4 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $14,619 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at IU Bloomington
Indiana University - South Bend ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana University - South Bend is a public institution located in South Bend, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Indiana University - South Bend also took the #20 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $9,646 for great lakes region media studies students per year to attend Indiana University - South Bend.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Indiana University - South Bend
Michigan State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 320 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan State also took the #3 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $19,058 for great lakes region media studies students per year to attend Michigan State.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Michigan State University Communication & Media Studies Report
Otterbein University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Otterbein University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Westerville, Ohio. It awarded 5 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Otterbein also took the #13 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Otterbein is $22,881 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students.
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 & Media Studies at Otterbein University
Miami University - Oxford came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large school located in Oxford, Ohio that handed out 60 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Miami University - Oxford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $24,756 for great lakes region media studies students per year to attend Miami University - Oxford.
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
Heidelberg University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Heidelberg University is a small school located in Tiffin, Ohio that handed out 6 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Heidelburg College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Heidelberg University is $21,579 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students.
Full Heidelberg University Communication & Media Studies Report
Olivet Nazarene University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. This small school is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, and it awarded 30 ’s media studies 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. It costs about $19,470 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students per year to attend Olivet Nazarene.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Olivet Nazarene Communication & Media Studies Report
Trinity International University - Illinois ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Trinity International University - Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution located in Deerfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
TIU Illinois did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend TIU Illinois is $21,200 for great lakes region media studies students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Trinity International University - Illinois Communication & Media Studies Report
With a ranking of #18, Saint Norbert College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. SNC is a private not-for-profit institution located in De Pere, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region media studies students list, SNC has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $26,612 for great lakes region media studies students per year to attend SNC.
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 Saint Norbert College
Rochester University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #19. RU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
RU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Rochester University is $17,003 for great lakes region media studies students.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Rochester University
DePaul University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 129 ’s media studies degrees in 2020-2021.
DePaul also took the #5 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for DePaul University is $31,174 for great lakes region media studies students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at DePaul University
With a ranking of #21, University of St Francis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Saint Francis is $17,102 for Great Lakes Region Media Studies students.
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%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Saint Francis
Denison University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Granville, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 48 degrees to qualified ’s media studies students in 2020-2021.
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 is $29,597 for great lakes region media studies 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. 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Denison University
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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
- *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.
Credits
college factual
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