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2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in the Great Lakes Region

13 Ranked Colleges
129 Degrees Awarded
$32,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Communication & Media Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 9th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 68,079 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 129 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $74,428 and $121,375 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 13 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Communication & Media Studies Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region doctor’s degree communications students.

Top 15 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in the Great Lakes Region

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Communication & Media Studies Report

#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a large public school situated in Athens, Ohio. It awarded 12 doctorate’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OHIO Athens, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio University - Athens Campus are $17,712, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at OHIO Athens

#3

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 14 doctorate’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue also took the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Purdue

#11 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Bowling Green State University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Bowling Green, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 7 degrees to qualified doctorate’s communications students in 2019-2020.

BGSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus are $15,823, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 17 doctorate’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UIUC

#6

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s communications students in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Communication & Media Studies Report

#12 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #7. UWM is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 2 doctorate’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM also took the #12 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UWM

#11 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s communications students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Doctor’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 more about Communication & Media Studies at UIC

#8

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#6 in overall quality

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Michigan State is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 14 doctorate’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree communications students list, Michigan State has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Doctor’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 Michigan State are $37,056.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Michigan State University

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 doctorate’s communications degrees to qualified students.

SIUC also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at SIUC

#15 in overall quality

Kent State University at Kent landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Kent State University at Kent is located in Kent, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 doctorate’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Kent State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Doctor’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 Kent State University at Kent are $21,952.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Kent State University at Kent

#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141.

Full Ohio State Communication & Media Studies Report

#11

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s communications degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

Wayne State also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State are $37,215.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Wayne State University

#12

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s communications degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Doctor’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 U-M are $49,548.

Full U-M Communication & Media Studies Report

#13

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Northwestern University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 doctorate’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Doctor’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 Northwestern are $56,567.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Northwestern 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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