2026 Best Value Communication & Journalism (Other) Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Communication & Journalism (Other)](/majors/communication-journalism-media/other-communication-journalism-media/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong communication & journalism (other) education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for communication & journalism (other) students.
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2026 Best Value Communication & Journalism (Other) Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & journalism (other), balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Communication & Journalism (Other) Schools
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #1 spot for value among communication & journalism (other) schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Typical student debt for communication & journalism (other) graduates is $11,889. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism (other) degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Michigan Dearborn came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & journalism (other) schools. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,640, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Communication & Journalism (Other) graduates carry a median of $26,516 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism (other) graduates make about $62,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & journalism (other) will find it at Western Illinois University, which ranked #3. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,572. Communication & Journalism (Other) graduates carry a median of $27,639 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism (other) degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $47,926. Set against $27,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism (other), landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Communication & Journalism (Other) graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Communication & Journalism (Other) graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $41,040 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.