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2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region

54 Ranked Colleges
727 Degrees Awarded
$48,158 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region” 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. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 727 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,892 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 54 colleges that offered a degree 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.

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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 “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region”.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region”.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in the Great Lakes Region

1
Spring Arbor crest
Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Spring Arbor University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Spring Arbor, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified masters’s communications students in 2020-2021.

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%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Spring Arbor University

2
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Out of the 54 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. Purdue is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 186 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 Purdue University - Main Campus

3
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Northwestern University is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 92 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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 Northwestern

4
Andrews crest
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Andrews University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Andrews is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Berrien Springs, Michigan. It awarded 8 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Andrews

5
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Eastern Illinois University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region. EIU is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Full EIU Communication & Media Studies Report

6

With a ranking of #6, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 14 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Northeastern Illinois University

7
Illinois State crest
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois

With a ranking of #7, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 44 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois State Communication & Media Studies Report

8
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s communications students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Columbia

9
Marquette crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #9, Marquette University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 20 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Marquette University

10

With a ranking of #10, Purdue University Northwest did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Hammond, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Purdue Northwest

11

With a ranking of #11, Youngstown State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Youngstown, Ohio, and it awarded 14 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Youngstown State University

12

The University of Findlay came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Findlay, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 5 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2020-2021.

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 The University of Findlay

13

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 15 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

14

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Bowling Green, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 19 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2020-2021.

Full Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Communication & Media Studies Report

15
GSU crest
Governors State University
University Park, Illinois

Governors State University ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. GSU is located in University Park, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Governors State University

16
PFW crest
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana

With a ranking of #16, Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. PFW is a medium-sized school located in Fort Wayne, Indiana that handed out 6 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Purdue University Fort Wayne

17

With a ranking of #17, University of Michigan - Flint did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. UM Flint is a public institution located in Flint, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Michigan - Flint

18
UDayton crest
University of Dayton
Dayton, Ohio

With a ranking of #18, University of Dayton did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 12 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Dayton Communication & Media Studies Report

19

With a ranking of #19, Indiana University - South Bend did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in South Bend, Indiana, and it awarded 3 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

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

20

Northern Illinois University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at NIU

21
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oakland University is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 14 masters’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Oakland

22
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Detroit, Michigan, this large public school awarded 21 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Wayne State

23

With a ranking of #23, University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 UIS Communication & Media Studies Report

24
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #24, DePaul University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 17 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 DePaul

25
GVSU crest
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Grand Valley State University is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 16 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

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