2023 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Journalism (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
112
Ranked Colleges
17,907
Degrees Awarded
$7,400
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 120,571 people earned their degree in communication and journalism, making the major the 11th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, communication and journalism graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,266 and had an average of $24,758 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 17,907 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,371 and $25,050 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 112 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in communication and journalism. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great communication and 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 communication and journalism program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Journalism (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 112 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 823 diplomas to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.
Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern is $245 for great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at Northwestern
Out of the 112 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 277 students in 2020-2021.
U-M also took the #2 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for U-M is $2,670 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full U-M Communication & Journalism Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 803 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $3,981 for great lakes region communication & 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%.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at UW - Madison
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 627 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $4,858 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school awarded 391 diplomas to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.
Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $5,995 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Purdue University - Main Campus.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at Purdue University - Main Campus
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 593 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $5,752 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at IU Bloomington
Michigan State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school awarded 1,336 degrees to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.
Michigan State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $6,927 for great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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%.
Full Michigan State Communication & Journalism Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 656 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $7,068 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 Communication & Journalism at Ohio State University - Main Campus
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 255 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,026 for great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IUPUI.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Ball State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ball State is located in Muncie, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 521 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.
Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,273 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ball State.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Ball State University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 116 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend SIUE is $8,047 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full SIUE Communication & Journalism Report
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 81 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $7,517 for Great Lakes Region Communication & 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at UW - La Crosse
Oakland University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Oakland is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 196 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Oakland University is $8,949 for Great Lakes Region Communication & 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%.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at Oakland
With a ranking of #14, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 55 diplomas to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UM Dearborn is $9,113 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 & Journalism at UM Dearborn
Miami University - Oxford did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large public school situated in Oxford, Ohio. It awarded 388 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Miami University - Oxford also took the #9 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $13,956 for great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Miami University - Oxford
With a ranking of #16, Ferris State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ferris State University is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Ferris is $6,577 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Ferris
University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 114 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,438 for great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wisconsin - River Falls Communication & Journalism Report
University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 126 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,549 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.
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%.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Communication & Journalism Report
With a ranking of #19, Indiana University - Kokomo did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Kokomo, Indiana, this small public school awarded 24 diplomas to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for IU Kokomo is $5,506 for great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at IU Kokomo
University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. UW - Parkside is a public institution located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 49 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,741 for great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Parkside.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UW - Parkside Communication & Journalism Report
Purdue University Northwest came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Hammond, Indiana, and it awarded 75 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University Northwest is $6,775 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Communication & Journalism at Purdue Northwest
DePauw University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Greencastle, Indiana, and it awarded 66 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
DePauw also took the #15 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePauw University is $19,503 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at DePauw
Indiana University - East did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. This small school is located in Richmond, Indiana, and it awarded 42 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend IU East is $5,516 for great lakes region communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at IU East
Sinclair Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Dayton, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 48 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,594 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Sinclair Community College.
Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Sinclair Community College
Grand Valley State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. GVSU is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 328 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $10,259 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Grand Valley State University Communication & Journalism Report
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