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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communications in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

40 Ranked Colleges
1,833 Degrees Awarded
$16,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Communications is the 65th most popular major in the country with 11,861 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,002 communications graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,833 communications graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 40 colleges that offered a degree in communications. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality communications 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 communications program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communications in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 40 schools in the Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 279 bachelors’s communication arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree communication arts students with aid list, UIUC has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Communications Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $15,880 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree communication arts students with aid.

The low 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 freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Communications at UIUC

#2

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 40 schools in the Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 131 bachelors’s communication arts degrees to qualified students.

Purdue also took the #2 spot in our “Best Communications Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $13,986 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree communication arts students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Purdue Communications Report

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 40 schools in the Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #3 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 141 bachelors’s communication arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Whitewater, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Communications Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $15,249 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree communication arts students with aid.

Read full report on Communications at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

#10 in overall quality

Out of the 40 schools in the Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #4 spot on the list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication arts degrees to 86 students in 2019-2020.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Communications Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UIC is $13,312 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication Arts students with aid.

The low 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%.

Read more about Communications at UIC

#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UW - Green Bay is a medium-sized public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 52 bachelors’s communication arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Green Bay, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Communications Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Green Bay is $14,395 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication Arts students with aid.

Read more about Communications at UW - Green Bay

University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Kenosha, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication arts degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,327 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree communication arts students with aid per year to attend UW - Parkside.

Read more about Communications at UW - Parkside

#7

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#13 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. UW - Stevens Point is a public institution located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 90 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Stevens Point also made our “Best Communications Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $14,465 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication Arts students with aid per year to attend UW - Stevens Point.

Full University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Communications Report

#11 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and it awarded 40 bachelors’s communication arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Eau Claire not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Communications Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $16,020 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication Arts students with aid per year to attend UW - Eau Claire.

Full University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Communications Report

#25 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Springfield came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Illinois at Springfield is a small public school situated in Springfield, Illinois. It awarded 32 bachelors’s communication arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UIS also took the #25 spot in our “Best Communications Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Springfield is $12,477 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree communication arts students with aid.

Read full report on Communications at University of Illinois at Springfield

#10

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#24 in overall quality

Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. EIU is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

EIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Communications Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for EIU is $14,607 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree communication arts students with aid.

Read more about Communications at Eastern Illinois University

#11

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan
#17 in overall quality

Oakland University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 146 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communication arts students in 2019-2020.

Oakland also took the #17 spot in our “Best Communications Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland is $11,802 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree communication arts students with aid.

Full Oakland Communications Report

Miami University - Hamilton ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Miami University - Hamilton is a small public school situated in Hamilton, Ohio. It awarded 16 bachelors’s communication arts degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,559 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication Arts students with aid per year to attend Miami University - Hamilton.

Read full report on Communications at Miami University - Hamilton

#13

Albion College

Albion, Michigan
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Albion College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Albion, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 26 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communication arts students in 2019-2020.

Albion not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Communications Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Albion College is $16,653 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree communication arts students with aid.

Full Albion Communications Report

University of Michigan - Flint came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UM Flint is a public institution located in Flint, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,734 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication Arts students with aid per year to attend University of Michigan - Flint.

Read full report on Communications at University of Michigan - Flint

#15

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#20 in overall quality

Western Michigan University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication arts degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

WMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Communications Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $19,433 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication Arts students with aid per year to attend Western Michigan University.

Read more about Communications at Western Michigan University

#16

Miami University - Middletown

Middletown, Ohio

With a ranking of #16, Miami University - Middletown did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Miami University - Middletown is a small school located in Middletown, Ohio that handed out 6 bachelors’s communication arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Middletown is $14,630 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication Arts students with aid.

Full Miami University - Middletown Communications Report

#17

Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Cardinal Stritch University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Cardinal Stritch is a small school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 14 bachelors’s communication arts degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $18,156 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication Arts students with aid per year to attend Cardinal Stritch.

The 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.

Read more about Communications at Cardinal Stritch

#18

Ashland University

Ashland, Ohio
#14 in overall quality

Ashland University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ashland University is a small school located in Ashland, Ohio that handed out 110 bachelors’s communication arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Ashland also took the #14 spot in our “Best Communications Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,111 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication Arts students with aid per year to attend Ashland.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communications at Ashland

#23 in overall quality

Kent State University at Kent came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Kent State is a large public school situated in Kent, Ohio. It awarded 198 bachelors’s communication arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree communication arts students with aid list, Kent State has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Communications Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $18,885 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication Arts students with aid per year to attend Kent State University at Kent.

Full Kent State Communications Report

University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. University of St. Francis Fort Wayne is a small school located in Fort Wayne, Indiana that handed out 5 bachelors’s communication arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of St. Francis Fort Wayne is $17,796 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree communication arts students with aid.

Read full report on Communications at University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne

#21

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, Indiana
#9 in overall quality

Valparaiso University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Valparaiso, Indiana, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s communication arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Valpo also made our “Best Communications Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Valparaiso University is $18,852 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree communication arts students with aid.

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

Read more about Communications at Valpo

#22

Walsh University

North Canton, Ohio

With a ranking of #22, Walsh University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in North Canton, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 12 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communication arts students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $16,075 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication Arts students with aid per year to attend Walsh.

The 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 full report on Communications at Walsh

#23

Wittenberg University

Springfield, Ohio
#16 in overall quality

Wittenberg University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Wittenberg University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Ohio. It awarded 22 bachelors’s communication arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Wittenberg not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Communications Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Wittenberg University is $22,886 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Communication Arts students with aid.

Read more about Communications at Wittenberg

#24

Siena Heights University

Adrian, Michigan

With a ranking of #24, Siena Heights University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Siena Heights University is located in Adrian, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s communication arts degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Siena Heights University is $21,249 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree communication arts students with aid.

Full Siena Heights University Communications Report

#25

Taylor University

Upland, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

Taylor University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Upland, Indiana, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s communication arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Taylor U also made our “Best Communications Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Taylor University is $25,888 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree communication arts students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low student loan default rate of 1.9% 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 Communications at Taylor 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

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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