206
Ranked Colleges
9,064
Degrees Awarded
$29,700
Avg Cost*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Communication & Media Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 10th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 66,787 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 “Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 206 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in communication and media studies. That schools that top this list have a program in communication and media studies in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region communications students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Hanover College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region. Hanover, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 33 students in 2020-2021.
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%.
Full Hanover Communication & Media Studies Report
Out of the 206 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Wilberforce University landed the #2 spot on the list. Wilberforce University is located in Wilberforce, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Wilberforce University Communication & Media Studies Report
Out of the 206 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, DePauw University landed the #3 spot on the list. DePauw is a small school located in Greencastle, Indiana that handed out 66 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 DePauw Communication & Media Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rochester University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region. Rochester University is a small school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 23 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at RU
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Albion College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Albion is a small school located in Albion, Michigan that handed out 31 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Albion College
Denison University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Granville, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 48 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Denison University
Principia College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Elsah, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 8 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Principia
Ripon College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ripon College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Ripon, Wisconsin. It awarded 14 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 Ripon
John Carroll University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. John Carroll is a private not-for-profit institution located in University Heights, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 64 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 John Carroll
Saint Norbert College ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. SNC is a small school located in De Pere, Wisconsin that handed out 33 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full SNC Communication & Media Studies Report
The College of Wooster did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Wooster College is located in Wooster, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Wooster College Communication & Media Studies Report
University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. UC Blue Ash College is located in Blue Ash, Ohio and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 48 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UC Blue Ash College Communication & Media Studies Report
Heidelberg University ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Tiffin, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Heidelburg College
Eureka College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Eureka College is located in Eureka, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Eureka College
With a ranking of #15, Indiana University - East did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Richmond, Indiana, and it awarded 42 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Indiana University - East Communication & Media Studies Report
With a ranking of #16, Augustana College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Rock Island, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 43 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Augustana
University of Dayton did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. Dayton, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 165 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UDayton Communication & Media Studies Report
Hope College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Hope College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Holland, Michigan. It awarded 38 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Hope College Communication & Media Studies Report
Aquinas College Michigan did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #19. Aquinas College Michigan is a small school located in Grand Rapids, Michigan that handed out 17 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Aquinas College Michigan Communication & Media Studies Report
Saint Mary’s College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 18 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, 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 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Saint Mary’s College
With a ranking of #21, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 87 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UW - Stevens Point
With a ranking of #22, Indiana University - Southeast did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana University - Southeast is a small school located in New Albany, Indiana that handed out 40 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Indiana University - Southeast Communication & Media Studies Report
Northeastern Illinois University ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Northeastern Illinois University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 73 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Northeastern Illinois University
Michigan State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 543 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Michigan State University
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 458 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, 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.
Full IU Bloomington Communication & Media Studies Report