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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

44 Ranked Colleges
716 Degrees Awarded
$23,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Communications Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 68,079 communication and media studies students received their degree, making the major the 9th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, communication and media studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,728 and had an average of $24,931 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 9,349 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,317 and $25,730 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 716 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 44 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in communication and media studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great communication and media studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the communication and media studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Communication & Media Studies Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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 Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

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

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 83 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Northwestern University Communication & Media Studies Report

#2

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 205 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k list, Purdue has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Purdue

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 10 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UW - Madison

Out of the 44 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #4 spot on the list. UIUC is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 2 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#5

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Indiana University - Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at IU Bloomington

#8 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 13 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Ohio State

University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s communications students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIS are $16,757.

Full UIS Communication & Media Studies Report

#15 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Whitewater, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Whitewater, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater are $19,200, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#9

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

Eastern Illinois University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. EIU is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

EIU also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at EIU

#10

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#25 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and it awarded 7 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Stevens Point not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Stevens Point are $19,178, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#11

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan
#24 in overall quality

Oakland University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Oakland University is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 6 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k list, Oakland has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Oakland are $24,648.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Oakland University

#19 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 4 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC also took the #19 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UIC

#13

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified masters’s communications students in 2019-2020.

GVSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at GVSU are $17,448, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Grand Valley State University

With a ranking of #14, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. SIUE is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 12 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree communications students whose families make $48-$75k list, SIUE has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at SIUE

#15

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana

With a ranking of #15, Purdue University Northwest did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Purdue Northwest is a medium-sized school located in Hammond, Indiana that handed out 11 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue Northwest are $11,633, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Purdue Northwest Communication & Media Studies Report

#16

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Wayne State University is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 23 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Wayne State University

#17

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#18 in overall quality

Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. Mount Pleasant, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan also took the #18 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Central Michigan University

With a ranking of #18, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 15 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUC also took the #13 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#19

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. This medium-sized school is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and it awarded 4 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University Fort Wayne are $14,618.

Full PFW Communication & Media Studies Report

#20

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana

Indiana University - South Bend came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Indiana University - South Bend is a small school located in South Bend, Indiana that handed out 1 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Indiana University - South Bend did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - South Bend are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Indiana University - South Bend

#21

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. USI is a fairly large public school situated in Evansville, Indiana. It awarded 6 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern Indiana are $20,039, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Southern Indiana Communication & Media Studies Report

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 6 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

#23

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

Governors State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in University Park, Illinois, this small public school awarded 10 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at GSU are $14,674, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at GSU

#24

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

With a ranking of #24, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 8 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086.

Full NIU Communication & Media Studies Report

#25

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 23 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Illinois State University

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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