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2023 Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism in Illinois

49 Ranked Colleges
3,467 Degrees Awarded
$33,048 Avg Salary
Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor's

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Communication & Journalism is the 11th most popular major in the country with 120,571 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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 Illinois, there were 4,546 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,627 and $23,670 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 3,467 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,117 and $25,584 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s” ranking looked at 49 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in communication and journalism. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular communication and journalism programs in the United States.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The communication & journalism school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s”.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s”.

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 579 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

2
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DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

Out of the 49 schools in the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, DePaul University landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 392 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full DePaul Communication & Journalism Report

3
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Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 49 schools in the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #3 spot on the list. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 374 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Northwestern

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Illinois State University. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s. Illinois State is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 300 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

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 Illinois State University Communication & Journalism Report

5
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Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Loyola University Chicago. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 228 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Loyola Chicago

6

With a ranking of #6, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s list. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 177 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Northern Illinois University Communication & Journalism Report

7
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Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #7. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 148 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Columbia College Chicago Communication & Journalism Report

8

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 123 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Communication & Journalism Report

9

With a ranking of #9, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 113 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

10

Western Illinois University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. WIU is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 107 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Western Illinois University

11

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 101 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at SIUE

12
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Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois

Bradley University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #12. Peoria, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 93 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 Bradley University Communication & Journalism Report

13
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Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 89 students in 2020-2021.

Full EIU Communication & Journalism Report

14

Northeastern Illinois University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 59 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Northeastern Illinois University

15
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Augustana College
Rock Island, Illinois

Augustana College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. This small school is located in Rock Island, Illinois, and it awarded 57 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, 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 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Augustana Communication & Journalism Report

16
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Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s list. Olivet Nazarene is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bourbonnais, Illinois. It awarded 52 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

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 Olivet Nazarene University Communication & Journalism Report

17

University of Illinois at Springfield came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. UIS is a small public school situated in Springfield, Illinois. It awarded 37 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.

Full University of Illinois at Springfield Communication & Journalism Report

18
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Governors State University
University Park, Illinois

Governors State University ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s list. University Park, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 34 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Governors State University

19
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Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois

Aurora University ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Aurora, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 33 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full Aurora University Communication & Journalism Report

20
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North Central College
Naperville, Illinois

North Central College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. North Central is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Naperville, Illinois. It awarded 31 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

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 more about Communication & Journalism at North Central College

21
Wheaton College Illinois crest
Wheaton College Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois

With a ranking of #21, Wheaton College Illinois did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s list. Wheaton College Illinois is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wheaton, Illinois. It awarded 29 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Wheaton College Illinois

22
SXU crest
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #22, Saint Xavier University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s list. Saint Xavier University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Saint Xavier University

23
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North Park University
Chicago, Illinois

North Park University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #23. North Park is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at North Park University

23
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Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois

Lewis University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. Romeoville, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%.

Full Lewis University Communication & Journalism Report

25
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

With a ranking of #25, Concordia University, Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s list. Located in River Forest, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Concordia University, Chicago Communication & Journalism Report

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