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2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region

252 Ranked Colleges
17,907 Degrees Awarded
$31,300 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region

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 the Great Lakes Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 252 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.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region

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

1
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan State University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Michigan State University is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,336 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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%.

Full Michigan State University Communication & Journalism Report

2
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 823 diplomas to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Northwestern

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 656 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Ohio State University - Main Campus

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region list. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 627 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region. 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.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, 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 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Indiana University - Bloomington

6

Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. OHIO Athens is a large public school situated in Athens, Ohio. It awarded 638 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Ohio University - Athens Campus Communication & Journalism Report

7

University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 803 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, 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 95%.

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

8
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ball State is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 521 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Ball State

9
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 455 diplomas to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 full report on Communication & Journalism at DePaul University

10

Miami University - Oxford came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oxford, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 388 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Miami University - Oxford

11

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 503 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Communication & Journalism Report

12

Kent State University at Kent landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Kent, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 362 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Kent State University at Kent

13

Illinois State University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 344 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Illinois State

14
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. 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.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. 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%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Purdue University - Main Campus

15

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. GVSU is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 328 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full Grand Valley State University Communication & Journalism Report

16
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Mount Pleasant, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 302 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 Central Michigan University

17

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 277 diplomas to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

18
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 248 diplomas to qualified ’s communication and journalism students 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Loyola University Chicago

19

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school awarded 255 degrees to qualified ’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%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

20

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UWM is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 230 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at UWM

21
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University ranked #21 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 196 students 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 full report on Communication & Journalism at Oakland

22

With a ranking of #22, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 191 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Northern Illinois University

23
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

With a ranking of #23, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and it awarded 188 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Eastern Michigan University

24
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University ranked #24 on this year’s Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Detroit, Michigan, this large public school handed out 188 degrees to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2020-2021.

Full Wayne State Communication & Journalism Report

25

With a ranking of #25, Cleveland State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Cleveland State University is a fairly large school located in Cleveland, Ohio that handed out 184 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Cleveland State University

Rest of the Best 38 in Most Well Attended Communication & Journalism Major in the Great Lakes Region

Not only did these schools make the top 38 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
Marquette crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
27
28
29
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan
30
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
31
32
33
34
Butler crest
Butler University
Indianapolis, Indiana
35
36
37
38

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