2026 Best Value Communications Schools in Illinois
[Communications](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communications/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong communications education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communications students.
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2026 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 tops our 2026 list of the best value communications schools in Illinois. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $20,750. Early-career communications graduates make about $38,912. Set against $20,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Springfield one of the best values for communications. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,557, while out-of-state students pay about $20,139. Students borrow a median of $24,322 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $32,050. That is a strong return on a $24,322 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for communications. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the communications program here. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $37,808. 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 is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communications, landing the #4 spot this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. Students from in state pay about $13,377 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $26,000. Early-career communications graduates make about $40,683. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communications will find it at National Louis University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $13,245 in tuition and fees. Communications graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $53,733. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago landed the #6 spot for communications value this year. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. 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. The acceptance rate is 90%.
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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $22,916. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $55,226. That is a strong return on a $22,916 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
More Communications Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
