2027 Best Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Communications is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 35 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best communications schools.
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Best Schools for Communications in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall communications education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Communications
Our analysis ranked Purdue University Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in communications. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 180 communications degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their communications degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $59,776 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
More information about a degree in communications from Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communications, ranking #2. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 199 communications degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $37,808. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communications program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the top schools for communications. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 81 communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communications program make about $38,912 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,750.
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A rank of #4 makes Michigan State University one of the top schools for communications. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. About 81% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 communications students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communications program make about $36,390 in their early career. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communications from Michigan State University
Students looking for a strong communications program will find one at Marquette University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Marquette University awarded about 26 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communications degree from Marquette University earn around $36,443 in the first couple years of their career. Marquette University graduates carry a median of $23,531 in student loans.
Read more about the communications program at Marquette University
Taylor University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best communications schools. Located in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Taylor University awarded about 10 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Taylor University generally make around $45,090. Typical student debt for the program is $21,832.
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University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire landed the #7 spot for communications this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent data year. Communications graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $40,333 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,730.
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Ohio University Main Campus came in at #8 for communications this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 29 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $36,666. Students borrow a median of $24,063 to complete this degree.
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University Of Evansville came in at #9 for communications this year. University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evansville. University Of Evansville graduates 65% of students within six years. University Of Evansville awarded about 10 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communications program make about $59,618 in their early career. University Of Evansville graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans.
See the full communications program report for University Of Evansville
Carroll University earned the #10 position for communications this year. Set in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Carroll University graduates 71% of students within six years. Carroll University awarded about 11 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communications degree from Carroll University earn around $52,404 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,904.
More information about a degree in communications from Carroll University
The College Of Wooster ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best communications schools. The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Wooster. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 communications students who graduated with this degree at The College Of Wooster in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from The College Of Wooster generally make around $39,527. Typical student debt for the program is $22,681.
More information about a degree in communications from The College Of Wooster
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater placed #12 among the best communications schools. This large public university is located in the town of Whitewater. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 126 communications degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent year. Communications graduates of University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn a median of $39,367 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communications from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater
National Louis University placed #13 among the best communications schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 30% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 communications students who graduated with this degree at National Louis University in the most recent data year. Communications graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $53,733 early in their careers. National Louis University graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communications from National Louis University
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #14 for communications this year. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates 52% of students within six years. University Of Akron Main Campus awarded about 13 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $49,045. Students borrow a median of $25,347 to complete this degree.
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Grace College And Theological Seminary earned the #15 position for communications this year. Located in the town of Winona Lake, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Grace College And Theological Seminary graduates 69% of students within six years. About 10 communications degrees were awarded at Grace College And Theological Seminary in the most recent year. Graduates of the communications program make about $42,188 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,211 to complete this degree.
See the full communications program report for Grace College And Theological Seminary
Oakland University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best communications schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 75 communications degrees were awarded at Oakland University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communications degree from Oakland University earn around $37,795 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,125 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communications from Oakland University
Eastern Illinois University earned the #17 position for communications this year. This large public university is located in the town of Charleston. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. There were roughly 62 communications students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communications degree from Eastern Illinois University earn around $40,683 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communications program at Eastern Illinois University
Kent State University At Kent placed #18 among the best communications schools. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 122 communications degrees were awarded at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent year. Communications graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $35,804 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communications program at Kent State University At Kent
University Of Illinois At Springfield ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best communications schools. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 35 communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Springfield in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $32,050. Typical student debt for the program is $24,322.
More information about a degree in communications from University Of Illinois At Springfield
Valparaiso University earned the #20 position for communications this year. Valparaiso University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Valparaiso. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 11 communications degrees were awarded at Valparaiso University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communications program make about $35,164 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Albion College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best communications schools. Albion College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Albion. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 27 communications degrees were awarded at Albion College in the most recent year. Communications graduates of Albion College earn a median of $39,209 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communications program at Albion College
Western Michigan University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best communications schools. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. About 58% of students finish within six years. Western Michigan University awarded about 15 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communications program make about $31,169 in their early career. Western Michigan University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #23 for communications this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Stevens Point. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 13 communications degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $35,724. Typical student debt for the program is $25,990.
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Edgewood College came in at #24 for communications this year. Edgewood College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Madison. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Edgewood College awarded about 13 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communications program make about $42,950 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communications program at Edgewood College
Hanover College landed the #25 spot for communications this year. Set in the town of Hanover, Hanover College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Hanover College awarded about 16 communications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from Hanover College generally make around $31,621. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communications program at Hanover College
Rest of the Top 35 Communications Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communications ranking:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 35 schools evaluated.
- 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.