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2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region

29 Ranked Colleges
1,837 Degrees Awarded
$17,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Communications is the 67th most popular major in the country with 12,001 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

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

For this year’s “Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 29 colleges that offer 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the communications program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Communications Schools

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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 Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Communications in the Great Lakes Region

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Whitewater, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication arts degrees to 117 students in 2020-2021.

UW - Whitewater did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $14,417 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students.

Full University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Communications Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 55 diplomas to qualified ’s communication arts students in 2020-2021.

UW - Eau Claire also took the #6 spot in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $16,051 for great lakes region communication arts students per year to attend UW - Eau Claire.

Read more about Communications at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Stevens Point, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication arts degrees to 87 students in 2020-2021.

UW - Stevens Point also made our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend UW - Stevens Point is $13,346 for great lakes region communication arts students.

Full UW - Stevens Point Communications Report

4
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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 #4 for the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Purdue University - Main Campus 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 list, Purdue has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Purdue is $13,377 for great lakes region communication arts students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Communications Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kent State University at Kent. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Kent State University at Kent is a large school located in Kent, Ohio that handed out 176 ’s communication arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Kent State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Kent State is $19,117 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students.

Read more about Communications at Kent State University at Kent

6
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Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #6. EIU is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 52 ’s communication arts degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at EIU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for EIU is $13,098 for great lakes region communication arts students.

Full Eastern Illinois University Communications Report

7

With a ranking of #7, University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Parkside is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s communication arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region communication arts students list, UW - Parkside has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Parkside is $11,082 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communications at University of Wisconsin - Parkside

8

With a ranking of #8, Youngstown State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school situated in Youngstown, Ohio. It awarded 15 ’s communication arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Youngstown State University is $12,225 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students.

Read more about Communications at Youngstown State University

9

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 45 degrees to qualified ’s communication arts students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $13,092 for great lakes region communication arts students.

Full University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Communications Report

10
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Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oakland is a public institution located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 144 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Oakland not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Oakland University is $13,449 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts 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%.

Full Oakland Communications Report

11
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Ashland University
Ashland, Ohio

With a ranking of #11, Ashland University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Ashland, Ohio, and it awarded 24 ’s communication arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Ashland not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $20,974 for great lakes region communication arts students per year to attend Ashland University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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 Ashland Communications Report

12

University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. UIS is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 40 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UIS also made our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #25. It costs about $12,034 for great lakes region communication arts students per year to attend University of Illinois at Springfield.

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

13

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 291 ’s communication arts degrees in 2020-2021.

UIUC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $14,321 for great lakes region communication arts students.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

14
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified ’s communication arts students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region communication arts students list, WMU has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,371 for great lakes region communication arts students per year to attend Western Michigan University.

Full Western Michigan University Communications Report

15

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 126 ’s communication arts degrees in 2020-2021.

UIC also took the #8 spot in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIC is $13,214 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communications at UIC

16

Grace College and Theological Seminary came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Winona Lake, Indiana, and it awarded 11 ’s communication arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Grace College also made our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for Grace College and Theological Seminary is $20,060 for great lakes region communication arts students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communications at Grace College

17
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Columbia is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s communication arts degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $26,258 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students per year to attend Columbia.

Full Columbia Communications Report

18

Franciscan University of Steubenville came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Franciscan U is located in Steubenville, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s communication arts degrees to qualified students.

Franciscan U also made our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $23,415 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students per year to attend Franciscan University of Steubenville.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Franciscan U Communications Report

19
Marquette crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Marquette University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Marquette University is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 44 ’s communication arts degrees to qualified students.

Marquette also took the #3 spot in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Marquette is $30,380 for great lakes region communication arts students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read full report on Communications at Marquette

20
Carroll U crest
Carroll University
Waukesha, Wisconsin

Carroll University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Carroll University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region communication arts students list, Carroll U has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Carroll U is $22,987 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students.

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%.

Full Carroll University Communications Report

21
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Walsh University
North Canton, Ohio

With a ranking of #21, Walsh University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Walsh University is located in North Canton, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s communication arts degrees to qualified students.

Walsh also took the #21 spot in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Walsh University is $16,276 for great lakes region communication arts students.

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 more about Communications at Walsh

22

With a ranking of #22, Heidelberg University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Tiffin, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communication arts degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.

Heidelburg College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $21,579 for great lakes region communication arts students per year to attend Heidelburg College.

Read full report on Communications at Heidelberg University

23
Edgewood crest
Edgewood College
Madison, Wisconsin

Edgewood College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Edgewood College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Edgewood also took the #22 spot in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Edgewood is $25,261 for great lakes region communication arts students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%.

Read full report on Communications at Edgewood

24
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University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana

University of Indianapolis came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communication arts degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $19,808 for Great Lakes Region Communication Arts students per year to attend UIndy.

Read more about Communications at UIndy

25
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Wittenberg University
Springfield, Ohio

Wittenberg University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Springfield, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 12 diplomas to qualified ’s communication arts students in 2020-2021.

Wittenberg also took the #23 spot in our “Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $21,508 for great lakes region communication arts students per year to attend Wittenberg.

Full Wittenberg Communications Report

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