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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism in Illinois (With Aid)

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 Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer a degree 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid” 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid.

Top 14 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism in Illinois (With Aid)

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #1 spot on the list. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

UIUC also took the #2 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at UIUC

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 4 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree communication & journalism students with aid list, UIC has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago 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 Getting Aid list. UIS 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.

UIS also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Springfield are $16,757, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Illinois at Springfield Communication & Journalism Report

#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 Getting Aid. EIU is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

EIU also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #7. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at EIU

#5

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 485 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Northwestern

#6

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Governors State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid 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 full report on Communication & Journalism at GSU

#8 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 12 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree communication & journalism students with aid list, SIUE has also earned the #8 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 SIUE are $9,300.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at SIUE

#6 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. This fairly large school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 15 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUC also took the #6 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#9

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communication and journalism degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

NIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Northern Illinois University Communication & Journalism Report

#10

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

Western Illinois University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 6 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

WIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at WIU are $11,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Western Illinois University

#11

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

Illinois State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Illinois State University is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 23 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #4 spot 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 Illinois State University are $11,069.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Illinois State

With a ranking of #12, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communication and journalism degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern Illinois University are $17,032, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Northeastern Illinois University

#13

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, DePaul University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. DePaul University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 79 masters’s 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul are $19,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full DePaul University Communication & Journalism Report

#14

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Loyola University Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Loyola Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 23 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Loyola Chicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 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 Loyola Chicago are $19,154.

Read full report on 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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