2027 Best Value Communications Schools in Illinois
[Communications](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communications/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communications students.
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2027 Best Value Communications Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communications, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Communications Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #1 spot for value among communications schools in Illinois. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,750 to complete the communications program here. Communications graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $38,912 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,750 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Springfield earned it the #2 place for communications. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,557 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,139. Communications graduates carry a median of $24,322 in student loans. Early-career communications graduates make about $32,050. Set against $24,322 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
National Louis University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communications, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $13,245 in tuition and fees. Communications graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans. Communications graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $53,733 early in their careers. Set against $29,242 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #4 place for communications. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $19,500. Communications graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $37,808 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Eastern Illinois University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value communications schools. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Communications graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career communications graduates make about $40,683. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago earned the #6 position for value in communications this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,088 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,557 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $29,160. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Depaul University placed #7 among the best values for communications. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $22,916. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $55,390. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
