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2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

112 Ranked Colleges
17,907 Degrees Awarded
$14,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 112 colleges that offer a degree in communication and journalism. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality communication and 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 communication and 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.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region communication & journalism students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Journalism in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

1
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Out of the 112 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 391 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. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $13,377 for great lakes region communication & journalism students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Purdue University - Main Campus

2

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 Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Indiana University - Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 593 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for IU Bloomington is $14,619 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at IU Bloomington

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 277 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $14,878 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. 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%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

4

Out of the 112 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 803 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region communication & journalism students with aid list, UW - Madison has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $17,234 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at University of Wisconsin - Madison

5

Out of the 112 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #5 spot on the list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 627 students in 2020-2021.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,321 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students with aid per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 94%.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Communication & Journalism Report

6
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

With a ranking of #6, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 1,336 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Michigan State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $19,058 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students with aid 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%. 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 Michigan State University

7

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 255 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $12,416 for great lakes region communication & journalism students with aid.

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 Communication & Journalism at IUPUI

8
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Muncie, Indiana, this large public school awarded 521 degrees to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.

Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,765 for great lakes region communication & journalism students with aid per year to attend Ball State University.

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 Communication & Journalism at Ball State University

9

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 126 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,214 for great lakes region communication & journalism students with aid 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

10

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 172 degrees to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UW - Whitewater is $14,417 for great lakes region communication & journalism students with aid.

Full University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Communication & Journalism Report

11

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 81 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $14,654 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students with aid.

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 86%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

12

University of Michigan - Dearborn ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UM Dearborn is a medium-sized public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 55 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Dearborn is $12,855 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at University of Michigan - Dearborn

13
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 823 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $23,279 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students with aid per year to attend Northwestern University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Northwestern

14

With a ranking of #14, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 656 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Ohio State also took the #8 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $16,845 for great lakes region communication & journalism students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Ohio State University - Main Campus Communication & Journalism Report

15

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 230 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

UWM also took the #22 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $17,486 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students with aid.

Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Communication & Journalism Report

16
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 196 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,449 for great lakes region communication & journalism students with aid per year to attend Oakland.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Oakland Communication & Journalism Report

17

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a public institution located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 87 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UW - Stevens Point is $13,346 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students with aid.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

18

University of Wisconsin - Parkside came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and it awarded 49 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Parkside is $11,082 for great lakes region communication & journalism students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at UW - Parkside

19

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. SIUE is a public institution located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 116 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $14,462 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students with aid.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at SIUE

20

Sinclair Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Dayton, Ohio, and it awarded 48 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Sinclair Community College is $4,959 for great lakes region communication & journalism students with aid.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Sinclair Community College

21

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a public institution located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 122 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $16,051 for great lakes region communication & journalism students with aid.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at UW - Eau Claire

22

Purdue University Northwest landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Purdue Northwest is a public institution located in Hammond, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 75 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University Northwest is $11,384 for great lakes region communication & journalism students with aid.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Purdue Northwest

23

With a ranking of #23, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and it awarded 138 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is $14,687 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students with aid.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

24

Indiana University - Kokomo landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Kokomo, Indiana, this small public school handed out 24 degrees to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Kokomo is $10,703 for Great Lakes Region Communication & Journalism students with aid.

Full IU Kokomo Communication & Journalism Report

25

With a ranking of #25, University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in River Falls, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 114 degrees to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $13,844 for great lakes region communication & journalism students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at UW - River Falls

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