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2023 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

101 Ranked Colleges
9,064 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

With 66,787 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, communication and media studies is the 10th most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, communication and media studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,115 and had an average of $25,414 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 9,064 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,036 and $25,485 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 101 colleges that offered a degree in communication and media studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent communication and media studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the communication and media studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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The communications school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northwestern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 207 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k list, Northwestern has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern University is $5,849 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Northwestern

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 277 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

U-M also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $10,481 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend U-M.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full U-M Communication & Media Studies Report

3
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Out of the 101 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 391 students in 2020-2021.

Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Purdue University - Main Campus is $8,450 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Purdue

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 334 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison also took the #3 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $10,364 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Madison

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 327 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $11,505 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate 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%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

6

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school awarded 458 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

IU Bloomington also took the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,369 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Indiana University - Bloomington.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad 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 Communication & Media Studies at IU Bloomington

7

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 580 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,273 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Ohio State.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Ohio State

8
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

With a ranking of #8, Oakland University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 144 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,008 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Oakland University.

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 Communication & Media Studies Report

9

University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. This medium-sized school is located in Dearborn, Michigan, and it awarded 33 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UM Dearborn is $12,398 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UM Dearborn

10

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 126 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $14,105 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 Communication & Media Studies at UIC

11

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. IUPUI is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 90 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $13,306 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Communication & Media Studies at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

12

With a ranking of #12, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. La Crosse, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 81 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,198 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UW - La Crosse.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate 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%.

Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Communication & Media Studies Report

13

Sinclair Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Sinclair Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Dayton, Ohio. It awarded 24 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Sinclair Community College is $6,283 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Sinclair Community College

14

With a ranking of #14, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 116 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $12,950 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at SIUE

15
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #15. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 543 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $20,557 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Michigan State

16

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 117 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

UW - Whitewater not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $14,226 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

17

With a ranking of #17, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 55 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k list, UW - Eau Claire has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $14,737 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

18
Albion crest
Albion College
Albion, Michigan

Albion College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #18. Albion College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Albion, Michigan. It awarded 31 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Albion is $14,717 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Albion College

19
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 52 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Illinois University is $12,675 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Eastern Illinois University

20

With a ranking of #20, University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in River Falls, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 47 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $14,528 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UW - River Falls

21
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 87 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $15,158 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Ball State.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Ball State

22

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #22. UW - Stevens Point is a public institution located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 87 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Stevens Point is $13,560 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Communication & Media Studies Report

23
DePauw crest
DePauw University
Greencastle, Indiana

With a ranking of #23, DePauw University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. DePauw University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Greencastle, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 66 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k list, DePauw has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for DePauw University is $22,316 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at DePauw University

24
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #24. Central Michigan University is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 82 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $15,720 for great lakes region communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Central Michigan.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Central Michigan Communication & Media Studies Report

25

With a ranking of #25, University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UW - Parkside is a small public school situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It awarded 49 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,061 for Great Lakes Region Communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UW - Parkside.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Wisconsin - Parkside Communication & Media Studies Report

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