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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

14 Ranked Colleges
729 Degrees Awarded
$21,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master's in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

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 for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Communication & Journalism is the 11th most popular major in the country with 121,387 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, communication and journalism graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,549 and had an average of $24,893 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 4,627 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,616 and $26,576 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 729 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,267 and $46,814 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in communication and journalism. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent communication and journalism programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the communication and journalism program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. 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 Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois master’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 14 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 485 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Northwestern Communication & Journalism Report

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s 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. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 31 diplomas to qualified masters’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UIUC Communication & Journalism Report

#11 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Springfield. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Illinois at Springfield is located in Springfield, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIS has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Springfield are $16,757.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at UIS

#4

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Eastern Illinois University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 15 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

EIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Illinois University are $20,761, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Eastern Illinois University Communication & Journalism Report

#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public institution located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, SIUE has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at SIUE

University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 4 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Communication & Journalism Report

#7

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Governors State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Governors State University is a public institution located in University Park, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

GSU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at GSU are $14,674, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at GSU

#8

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

Illinois State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 23 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #4. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State are $11,069.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Illinois State University

#6 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communication and journalism degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree communication & journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, SIUC has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full SIUC Communication & Journalism Report

#10

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

NIU also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #10. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086.

Full Northern Illinois University Communication & Journalism Report

#11

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

Western Illinois University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. WIU is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at WIU are $11,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at WIU

Northeastern Illinois University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified masters’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #0. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern Illinois University are $17,032.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Northeastern Illinois University

#13

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#3 in overall quality

DePaul University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. DePaul is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 79 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

DePaul did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul are $19,760.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at DePaul University

#14

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

Loyola University Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s communication and journalism degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Loyola Chicago, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola University Chicago are $19,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Loyola Chicago

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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.

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