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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in Illinois

45 Ranked Colleges
2,072 Degrees Awarded
$28,100 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 Illinois, there were 2,072 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,207 and $24,284 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois” ranking analyzed 45 colleges that offered a degree in communication and media studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular communication and media studies programs in the United States.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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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 Illinois” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois communications students.

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 327 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UIUC

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Illinois State University. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois. 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 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 Illinois State

3
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 45 schools in the Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #3 spot on the list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 207 students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Northwestern University

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northern Illinois University. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois. NIU is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 174 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Full Northern Illinois University Communication & Media Studies Report

5
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend DePaul University. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 173 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 more about Communication & Media Studies at DePaul University

6

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 126 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Illinois at Chicago

7

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois list. 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 full report on Communication & Media Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

8

With a ranking of #8, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois list. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 73 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Northeastern Illinois University

9

Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #9. WIU is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 70 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at WIU

10
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 52 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at EIU

11
Augustana crest
Augustana College
Rock Island, Illinois

Augustana College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Rock Island, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 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 full report on Communication & Media Studies at Augustana

12

With a ranking of #12, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois list. SIUC is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 41 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at SIUC

12
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Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

With a ranking of #12, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois list. Bourbonnais, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 41 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Olivet Nazarene

14

University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois ranking. University of Illinois at Springfield is a small public school situated in Springfield, Illinois. It awarded 40 ’s communications degrees 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%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Illinois at Springfield

15
GSU crest
Governors State University
University Park, Illinois

With a ranking of #15, Governors State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois list. This small school is located in University Park, Illinois, and it awarded 39 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at GSU

16
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Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois

Aurora University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois ranking. Aurora is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Aurora, Illinois. It awarded 33 ’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%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Aurora

17
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #17, Loyola University Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois list. Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 32 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Full Loyola University Chicago Communication & Media Studies Report

18
Wheaton College Illinois crest
Wheaton College Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois

Wheaton College Illinois landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois ranking. Wheaton College Illinois is a small school located in Wheaton, Illinois that handed out 29 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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%.

Full Wheaton College Illinois Communication & Media Studies Report

19
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 25 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Columbia

20
SXU crest
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #20. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 21 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Saint Xavier University Communication & Media Studies Report

20
North Park crest
North Park University
Chicago, Illinois

North Park University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois list. North Park is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 21 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at North Park University

22
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

Concordia University, Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #22. River Forest, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Concordia University, Chicago

23
NLU crest
National Louis University
Chicago, Illinois

National Louis University ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois list. NLU is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at National Louis University

24
Lake Forest crest
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, Illinois

Lake Forest College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Lake Forest, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Lake Forest College

25
Benedictine U crest
Benedictine University
Lisle, Illinois

Benedictine University ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communications Major in Illinois list. Lisle, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communications degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.9% 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%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Benedictine U

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