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2022 Best Value Colleges for Journalism (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

16 Ranked Colleges
627 Degrees Awarded
$16,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 14,528 people earned their degree in journalism, making the major the 62nd most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, journalism graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $31,042 and had an average of $24,628 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 627 journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,000 and $27,965 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 16 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in journalism. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great journalism programs and cost less that 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Journalism Schools

The journalism 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 “Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k”.

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.

Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 16 Best Value Colleges for Journalism (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 271 students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $3,995 for illinois journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%.

Read more about Journalism at Northwestern University

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #2 spot on the list. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 66 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIUC has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Journalism Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $8,464 for Illinois Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Journalism Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Springfield. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. UIS is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIS has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Journalism Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $8,323 for illinois journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Illinois at Springfield.

Full UIS Journalism Report

#4

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northern Illinois University landed the #4 spot on the list. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

NIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Journalism Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $15,861 for Illinois Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend NIU.

Read more about Journalism at Northern Illinois University

#5

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school awarded 33 diplomas to qualified ’s journalism students in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also took the #5 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State University is $14,999 for illinois journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Read full report on Journalism at Illinois State

#6

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

With a ranking of #6, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. EIU is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

EIU also made our “Best Journalism Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $11,316 for Illinois Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Eastern Illinois University.

Read full report on Journalism at Eastern Illinois University

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUC also took the #12 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $14,306 for illinois journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SIUC.

Full SIUC Journalism Report

#8

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Macomb, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 3 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2019-2020.

WIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Journalism Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Western Illinois University is $14,526 for illinois journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Journalism at Western Illinois University

#9

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois

With a ranking of #9, Augustana College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Rock Island, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 22 diplomas to qualified ’s journalism students in 2019-2020.

Augustana did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Journalism Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Augustana is $16,249 for Illinois Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Journalism at Augustana College

#10

Dominican University

River Forest, Illinois

Dominican University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in River Forest, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Dominican U, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Dominican University is $17,586 for Illinois Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive 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 more about Journalism at Dominican University

#11

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois

Bradley University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Peoria, Illinois, and it awarded 9 ’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Bradley also took the #6 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bradley University is $18,232 for Illinois Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Bradley University Journalism Report

#12

North Central College

Naperville, Illinois

North Central College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. North Central College is located in Naperville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

North Central also took the #4 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Central College is $20,128 for Illinois Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Journalism at North Central

#13

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois

Concordia University, Chicago came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in River Forest, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified ’s journalism students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, Concordia University, Chicago has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Journalism Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Chicago is $15,406 for illinois journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Concordia University, Chicago Journalism Report

#14

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #14, Columbia College Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Columbia is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 34 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Journalism Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College Chicago is $27,397 for illinois journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Columbia Journalism Report

#15

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 62 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2019-2020.

DePaul also made our “Best Journalism Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for DePaul is $25,842 for Illinois Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 more about Journalism at DePaul

#16

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Loyola University Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 29 ’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Loyola Chicago, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Loyola University Chicago is $29,788 for Illinois Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.

Read more about Journalism at Loyola University Chicago

Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Jfurrer.

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