If you pursue a bachelor's degree in
communication & media studies, you won't be alone. The field of study is the #5 most popular program in the country. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.
For its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools in Illinois to determine which ones were the best for communication & media studies students pursuing a bachelor's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 1,802 bachelor's degrees in communication & media studies to qualified students.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
The communications bachelor's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality communications program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
A Great Overall School
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Early-Career Earnings
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of bachelor's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their bachelor's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
Other Factors We Consider
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
- Major Focus - How many resources a school devotes to communication & media studies students as compared to other majors.
- Major Demand - The number of communication & media studies students who choose to seek a bachelor's degree at the school.
- Educational Resources - The amount of money and other resources allocated to students while they are pursuing their degree. These resources include such things as number of students per instructor and education expenditures per student.
- Student Debt - How easy is it for communication & media studies to pay back their student loans after receiving their bachelor's degree.
- Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or accredited by a recognized communication & media studies related body.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for communication & media studies students working on their bachelor's degree.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in Illinois list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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.
Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
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Featured Communication & Media Studies Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Communication
With an online bachelor's degree in communication you'll have the opportunity to pursue a multitude of career options. From journalism and social media, to public relations, advertising and mass media, earning your BA in communication will allow you to strategize and communicate your ideas.
Learn More
Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a bachelor's degree in communication & media studies.
10 Top Illinois Schools for a Bachelor's in Communications
Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a bachelor's degree in communication & media studies. Northwestern is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Evanston.
Bachelor's recipients from the communication & media studies program at Northwestern University earn $15,553 above the typical graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a bachelor’s in communication & media studies from Northwestern University
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a wonderful choice for individuals pursuing a bachelor's degree in communication & media studies. Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public university with a very large student population.
Those communication & media studies students who get their bachelor's degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign earn $5,624 more than the standard communications student.
More information about a bachelor’s in communication & media studies from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
DePaul University is a wonderful choice for individuals interested in a bachelor's degree in communication & media studies. Located in the large city of Chicago, DePaul is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.
Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the communications program earn an average of $31,913 for their early career.
More information about a bachelor’s in communication & media studies from DePaul University
Every student who is interested in a bachelor's degree in communication & media studies has to check out Illinois State University. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Normal, Illinois State is a public university with a very large student population.
Those communication & media studies students who get their bachelor's degree from Illinois State University earn $4,608 more than the standard communications student.
More information about a bachelor’s in communication & media studies from Illinois State University
Located in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Bachelor's recipients from the communication & media studies major at Lake Forest College earn $12,625 more than the typical graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a bachelor’s in communication & media studies from Lake Forest College
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