2023 Best Value Colleges for Journalism (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
37
Ranked Colleges
1,618
Degrees Awarded
$10,700
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Journalism is the 69th most popular major in the country with 13,552 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, journalism graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $32,953 and had an average of $23,734 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,618 journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,946 and $25,109 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 37 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in journalism. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality journalism programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the journalism program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Journalism Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Journalism (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 37 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 209 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison also took the #1 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $3,981 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UW - Madison Journalism Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. IU Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 123 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $5,752 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Read more about Journalism at Indiana University - Bloomington
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 #3 for the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 53 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC also took the #2 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $4,858 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Journalism at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Michigan State is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 111 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k list, Michigan State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $6,927 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan State University.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Full Michigan State Journalism Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school awarded 42 diplomas to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k list, IUPUI has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for IUPUI is $7,026 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Journalism at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Ball State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ball State is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 68 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Ball State also made our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Ball State is $8,273 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 Journalism at Ball State University
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Ohio State University - Main Campus is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ohio State has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $7,068 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Journalism Report
With a ranking of #8, Oakland University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Oakland is a public institution located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Oakland, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,949 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakland.
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 full report on Journalism at Oakland University
Miami University - Oxford did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
Miami University - Oxford also made our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Oxford is $13,956 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Journalism at Miami University - Oxford
With a ranking of #10, Indiana University - Southeast did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in New Albany, Indiana, and it awarded 13 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Southeast is $7,587 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Journalism at Indiana University - Southeast
Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 35 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Central Michigan also took the #20 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan is $10,805 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 Central Michigan Journalism Report
Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. OHIO Athens is a public institution located in Athens, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 185 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
OHIO Athens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $17,614 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus.
Read more about Journalism at OHIO Athens
Kent State University at Kent came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Kent State University at Kent is a large school located in Kent, Ohio that handed out 74 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Kent State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,793 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Kent State University at Kent.
Read full report on Journalism at Kent State University at Kent
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 55 diplomas to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.
UW - Whitewater not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $8,143 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Journalism at UW - Whitewater
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW Oshkosh is a public institution located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UW Oshkosh also made our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #25. It costs about $9,499 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh.
Full UW Oshkosh Journalism Report
With a ranking of #16, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
SIUC also made our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $11,665 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full SIUC Journalism Report
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 35 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC is $15,061 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 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 Journalism Report
With a ranking of #18, Western Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. WMU is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 8 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
WMU also took the #21 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WMU is $13,112 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Western Michigan University Journalism Report
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a fairly large school located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin that handed out 11 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $9,547 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Eau Claire.
Full UW - Eau Claire Journalism Report
Marquette University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Marquette is a fairly large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 30 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Marquette did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Marquette University is $18,589 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Full Marquette Journalism Report
Wayne State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. This large school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 29 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $11,060 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wayne State.
Read more about Journalism at Wayne State
Illinois State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 29 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Illinois State also made our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $13,783 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Illinois State University.
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 Journalism at Illinois State
Bradley University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Peoria, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 9 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k list, Bradley has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bradley University is $16,588 for great lakes region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Full Bradley Journalism Report
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. BGSU is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,079 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus.
Read full report on Journalism at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus
University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Springfield is $10,831 for Great Lakes Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 Journalism at UIS
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