College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Communication & Journalism in Illinois

59 Ranked Colleges
4,546 Degrees Awarded
$28,400 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois” 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.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois” ranking analyzed 59 colleges that offered a degree in communication and journalism. To top this list, a school must have a successful communication and journalism program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Communication & Journalism Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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 “Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois” list to help you make the college decision.

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. 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.

Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois communication & journalism students.

1
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 59 schools in the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern University is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 823 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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 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.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Northwestern University

2

Out of the 59 schools in the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #2 spot on the list. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 627 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UIUC Communication & Journalism Report

3
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DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

Out of the 59 schools in the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, DePaul University landed the #3 spot on the list. DePaul University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 455 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full DePaul University Communication & Journalism Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school handed out 344 diplomas to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.

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%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Illinois State University

5
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Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Loyola University Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 248 students 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 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Loyola Chicago Communication & Journalism Report

6

Northern Illinois University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois ranking. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 191 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Northern Illinois University

7
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Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 158 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Columbia

8

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois ranking. UIC is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 126 ’s communication and journalism degrees 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%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of Illinois at Chicago

9

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 124 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at SIUC

10

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 116 diplomas to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Communication & Journalism Report

11

Western Illinois University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois ranking. WIU is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 112 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Western Illinois University Communication & Journalism Report

12
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #12. Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 108 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

Full Eastern Illinois University Communication & Journalism Report

13
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Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois

Bradley University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois ranking. Bradley is located in Peoria, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 93 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, 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 86%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Bradley University

14

With a ranking of #14, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 73 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Northeastern Illinois University

15
Augustana crest
Augustana College
Rock Island, Illinois

With a ranking of #15, Augustana College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. Augustana College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rock Island, Illinois. It awarded 57 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Augustana

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 list. Olivet Nazarene University is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 52 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 more about Communication & Journalism at Olivet Nazarene

17

University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois ranking. UIS is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 44 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UIS Communication & Journalism Report

18
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Governors State University
University Park, Illinois

With a ranking of #18, Governors State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. University Park, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 39 students in 2020-2021.

Full Governors State University Communication & Journalism Report

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 list. Aurora University is a medium-sized school located in Aurora, Illinois that handed out 33 ’s communication and journalism degrees 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%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Aurora University

20
North Central crest
North Central College
Naperville, Illinois

North Central College ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. North Central College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Naperville, Illinois. It awarded 31 ’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

Wheaton College Illinois came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois ranking. Wheaton College Illinois is a small school located in Wheaton, Illinois that handed out 29 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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. 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%.

Full Wheaton College Illinois Communication & Journalism Report

22
SXU crest
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois ranking. Saint Xavier University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 24 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Full SXU Communication & Journalism Report

23
Lewis crest
Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois

Lewis University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Romeoville, Illinois, and it awarded 23 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Lewis

23
North Park crest
North Park University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #23, North Park University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois list. North Park University is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 23 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

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. 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%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at North Park

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

Concordia University, Chicago landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in Illinois ranking. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 21 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Concordia University, Chicago

Notes and References

References

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