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2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region

206 Ranked Colleges
9,064 Degrees Awarded
$29,700 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that 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 “Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 206 colleges that offered a degree in communication and media studies. To top this list, a school must have a successful communication and media studies program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Communication & Media Studies Schools

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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 “Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region”.

1

Out of the 206 schools in the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 580 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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 Ohio State University - Main Campus Communication & Media Studies Report

2
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Out of the 206 schools in the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan State University landed the #2 spot on the list. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 543 students in 2020-2021.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Michigan State

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 458 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at IU Bloomington

4
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 391 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Purdue

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 334 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 more about Communication & Media Studies at UW - Madison

6

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 327 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UIUC Communication & Media Studies Report

7

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 277 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 U-M

8

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 289 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%.

Full UC Communication & Media Studies Report

9

With a ranking of #9, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 226 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 full report on Communication & Media Studies at Illinois State University

10

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 222 students in 2020-2021.

Full UWM Communication & Media Studies Report

11

Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. OHIO Athens is a large public school situated in Athens, Ohio. It awarded 305 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Ohio University - Athens Campus Communication & Media Studies Report

12
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 207 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. 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

13

Kent State University at Kent did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Kent, Ohio, this large public school awarded 176 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

Full Kent State University at Kent Communication & Media Studies Report

14

Northern Illinois University ranked #14 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 174 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at NIU

15
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. DePaul is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 173 ’s communications degrees 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 University

16

University of Dayton did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 165 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 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%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UDayton

17
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

With a ranking of #17, Oakland University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Oakland University is a public institution located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 144 ’s degrees 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 Oakland

18
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Eastern Michigan is a public institution located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 133 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Eastern Michigan Communication & Media Studies Report

19

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 126 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

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 full report on Communication & Media Studies at UIC

20

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 117 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

Full University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Communication & Media Studies Report

21

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. 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.

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

22

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #22 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 90 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Communication & Media Studies Report

22

With a ranking of #22, Grand Valley State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Grand Valley State University is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 90 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Grand Valley State University

24

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #24 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 87 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Full UW - Stevens Point Communication & Media Studies Report

24
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

With a ranking of #24, Ball State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Muncie, Indiana, this large public school handed out 87 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

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 full report on Communication & Media Studies at Ball State University

Rest of the Best 31 in Most Well Attended Communications Major in the Great Lakes Region

Not only did these schools make the top 31 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
27
28
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan
29
30
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan
31

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