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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism in the Great Lakes Region

44 Ranked Colleges
1,495 Degrees Awarded
$18,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 the Great Lakes region, there were 18,381 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,631 and $25,490 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,495 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 44 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the communication and journalism program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 the Great Lakes Region” 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 the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree communication & journalism students.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Ashland University

Ashland, Ohio
#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ashland University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Ashland University is a small school located in Ashland, Ohio that handed out 11 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Ashland not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ashland are $6,444, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Ashland University

#2

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified masters’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also took the #13 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Illinois State Communication & Journalism Report

#3

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, Indiana
#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Valparaiso University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Valparaiso University is located in Valparaiso, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

Valpo also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Valpo are $12,220.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Valparaiso University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 12 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at SIUE

#5

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Spring Arbor University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Spring Arbor University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Spring Arbor, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Spring Arbor University are $8,232.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Spring Arbor University

#6

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #6. Purdue is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 205 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Purdue

#7

Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#5 in overall quality

Marquette University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Marquette is a private not-for-profit institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 29 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Marquette, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Marquette University are $21,690, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Marquette University

#8

University of Dayton

Dayton, Ohio
#7 in overall quality

University of Dayton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. UDayton is located in Dayton, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UDayton, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Dayton are $17,780.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of Dayton

#20 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a public institution located in Whitewater, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Whitewater also took the #20 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater are $19,200, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 23 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also took the #3 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at UW - Madison

#11

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 6 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at WIU are $11,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full WIU Communication & Journalism Report

#12

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#22 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. Grand Valley State University is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 20 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

GVSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Valley State University are $17,448, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Grand Valley State University

#13

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

With a ranking of #13, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 8 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at NIU

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is located in Bowling Green, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus are $15,823.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at BGSU

#15

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Eastern Illinois University 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.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree communication & journalism students list, EIU has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Illinois University are $20,761, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at EIU

#16

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, DePaul University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. DePaul University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 79 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

DePaul also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul are $19,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full DePaul Communication & Journalism Report

#17

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Stevens Point are $19,178, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#18

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#23 in overall quality

Central Michigan University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Central Michigan is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan University are $19,359.

Full Central Michigan University Communication & Journalism Report

#19

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana

Purdue University Northwest came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Hammond, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communication and journalism degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue Northwest are $11,633.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Purdue Northwest

#20

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

Loyola University Chicago landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. 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 #14 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola University Chicago are $19,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Loyola Chicago

#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. OHIO Athens is a large public school situated in Athens, Ohio. It awarded 44 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OHIO Athens, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Ohio University - Athens Campus

#17 in overall quality

Kent State University at Kent ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Kent State is a public institution located in Kent, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree communication & journalism students list, Kent State has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State University at Kent are $21,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Kent State

#4 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 31 degrees to qualified masters’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree communication & journalism students list, UIUC has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#24

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#19 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 18 diplomas to qualified masters’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

UWM also took the #19 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#25

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#16 in overall quality

Ball State University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 45 masters’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204.

Full Ball State Communication & Journalism Report

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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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