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2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

29 Ranked Colleges
1,837 Degrees Awarded
$12,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 12,001 people earned their degree in communications, making the major the 67th most popular in the United States.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,837 communications graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 29 colleges that offered a degree in communications. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great communications programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the communications program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. 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 Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region communication arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Communications (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 291 diplomas to qualified ’s communication arts 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 Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $4,858 for great lakes region communication arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, 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 94%.

Read more about Communications at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

2
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Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 149 ’s communication arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region communication arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Purdue has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $5,995 for great lakes region communication arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read more about Communications at Purdue University - Main Campus

3
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Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Oakland University landed the #3 spot on the list. Oakland University is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 144 ’s communication arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Oakland did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland University is $8,949 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 full report on Communications at Oakland University

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 126 ’s communication arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region communication arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIC has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $10,549 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 Communications at University of Illinois at Chicago

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 117 diplomas to qualified ’s communication arts students in 2020-2021.

UW - Whitewater also made our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Whitewater is $8,143 for great lakes region communication arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Communications at UW - Whitewater

6

University of Wisconsin - Parkside came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Parkside is a small public school situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It awarded 32 ’s communication arts degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Parkside, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $6,741 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Parkside.

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%.

Read full report on Communications at UW - Parkside

7

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 55 diplomas to qualified ’s communication arts students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Eau Claire, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Eau Claire is $9,547 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Communications at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

8
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Albion College
Albion, Michigan

Albion College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Albion, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 31 degrees to qualified ’s communication arts students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Albion, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Albion is $10,452 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Communications at Albion College

9

With a ranking of #9, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kent, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication arts degrees to 176 students in 2020-2021.

Kent State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Kent State is $13,793 for great lakes region communication arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Communications at Kent State University at Kent

10

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and it awarded 87 ’s communication arts degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Stevens Point also took the #12 spot in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $7,903 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Communications at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

11
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Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Indiana

Saint Mary’s College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Mary’s College is a small school located in Notre Dame, Indiana that handed out 18 ’s communication arts degrees in 2020-2021.

St. Mary’s College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend St. Mary’s College is $12,063 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Saint Mary’s College Communications Report

12
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. EIU is a medium-sized school located in Charleston, Illinois that handed out 52 ’s communication arts degrees in 2020-2021.

EIU also took the #11 spot in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend EIU is $11,015 for great lakes region communication arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full EIU Communications Report

13

With a ranking of #13, University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIS is located in Springfield, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 40 ’s communication arts degrees to qualified students.

UIS did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $10,831 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UIS.

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%.

Full University of Illinois at Springfield Communications Report

14
Valpo crest
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, Indiana

Valparaiso University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Valparaiso University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Valparaiso, Indiana. It awarded 12 ’s communication arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Valpo also made our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $19,548 for great lakes region communication arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Valparaiso University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communications at Valparaiso University

15
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Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WMU is a public institution located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

WMU also took the #17 spot in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,112 for great lakes region communication arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend WMU.

Read more about Communications at WMU

16
Marquette crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Marquette University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 44 ’s communication arts degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Marquette, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Marquette University is $18,589 for great lakes region communication arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Marquette Communications Report

17

Youngstown State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s communication arts degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Youngstown State University is $9,175 for great lakes region communication arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Communications at Youngstown State University

18

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Green Bay, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication arts degrees to 45 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Green Bay is $8,258 for great lakes region communication arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Communications at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

19
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Walsh University
North Canton, Ohio

Walsh University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. North Canton, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communication arts degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Walsh, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Walsh is $13,297 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 full report on Communications at Walsh University

20
Ashland crest
Ashland University
Ashland, Ohio

Ashland University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ashland University is located in Ashland, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 ’s communication arts degrees to qualified students.

Ashland also made our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for Ashland University is $19,728 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Ashland Communications Report

21

Heidelberg University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Heidelberg University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Tiffin, Ohio. It awarded 10 ’s communication arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Heidelburg College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Heidelberg University is $16,007 for great lakes region communication arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Heidelberg University Communications Report

22
Alma crest
Alma College
Alma, Michigan

Alma College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Alma is a private not-for-profit institution located in Alma, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Alma not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Alma is $19,666 for great lakes region communication arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.

Full Alma Communications Report

23

With a ranking of #23, Franciscan University of Steubenville did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Franciscan University of Steubenville is a small school located in Steubenville, Ohio that handed out 27 ’s communication arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Franciscan U did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Franciscan University of Steubenville is $16,790 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Communications at Franciscan University of Steubenville

24
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Carroll University
Waukesha, Wisconsin

Carroll University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Carroll University is a small school located in Waukesha, Wisconsin that handed out 28 ’s communication arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Carroll U also made our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $18,113 for great lakes region communication arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Carroll U.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Carroll U Communications Report

25
UIndy crest
University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana

University of Indianapolis came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 24 diplomas to qualified ’s communication arts students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,124 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Indianapolis.

Read full report on Communications at UIndy

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