2027 Best Communication & Journalism Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Communication & Journalism programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 132 schools to find the best for communication & journalism students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Communication & Journalism in the Great Lakes Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the communication & journalism degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Communication & Journalism
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in communication & journalism. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 220 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $50,556. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $20,376 in student loans.
Get the full communication & journalism details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 924 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $39,728 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 52 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong communication & journalism program will find one at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #4. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 247 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $59,776 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at Purdue University Main Campus
Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 817 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $59,694. Students borrow a median of $15,954 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Northwestern University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #6 for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 530 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $51,641 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $22,677 in student loans.
See the full communication & journalism program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #7 spot for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 632 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $38,187. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $19,992 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at Indiana University Bloomington
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #8 among the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 557 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $38,785 early in their careers. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,367 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Dayton earned the #9 position for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 176 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dayton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $42,629. Typical student debt for the program is $25,375.
See the full communication & journalism program report for University Of Dayton
Miami University Oxford placed #10 among the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 335 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Miami University Oxford earn around $49,207 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,181 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Miami University Oxford
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #11 position for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 81 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $38,912. Students borrow a median of $20,750 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & journalism program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago
Illinois State University landed the #12 spot for communication & journalism this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 233 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $42,198 early in their careers. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $22,559 in student loans.
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Michigan State University landed the #13 spot for communication & journalism this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 1,120 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $44,222 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,430.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at Michigan State University
Denison University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Granville. Denison University graduates 79% of students within six years. About 63 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Denison University in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Denison University earn a median of $47,396 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,187.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Denison University
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse placed #15 among the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 80 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn around $40,293 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,455.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse
Marquette University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Marquette University awarded about 124 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Marquette University earn around $40,235 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,137.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at Marquette University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #17 for communication & journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. About 428 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $36,559 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,935 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Loyola University Chicago placed #18 among the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 180 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $42,035 early in their careers. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $24,497 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Loyola University Chicago
Taylor University earned the #19 position for communication & journalism this year. Set in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Taylor University awarded about 19 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Taylor University earn a median of $45,090 early in their careers. Taylor University graduates carry a median of $21,832 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Taylor University
Depauw University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Located in the town of Greencastle, Depauw University is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 65 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Depauw University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $43,141 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Depauw University
Wabash College came in at #21 for communication & journalism this year. Wabash College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Crawfordsville. Wabash College graduates 77% of students within six years. Wabash College awarded about 15 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Wabash College earn a median of $40,138 early in their careers. Wabash College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Wabash College
Northwood University Michigan earned the #22 position for communication & journalism this year. Northwood University Michigan is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Midland. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 14 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Northwood University Michigan in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Northwood University Michigan earn a median of $50,791 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,250.
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Depaul University came in at #23 for communication & journalism this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 313 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $47,340 in their early career. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $24,320 in student loans.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Depaul University
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best communication & journalism schools. This large public university is located in the city of Eau Claire. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 62 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $40,333 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates carry a median of $22,730 in student loans.
See the full communication & journalism program report for University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
John Carroll University earned the #25 position for communication & journalism this year. John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of University Heights. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. John Carroll University awarded about 36 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $41,072 in their early career. John Carroll University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full communication & journalism details for John Carroll University
Rest of the Top 50 Communication & Journalism Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong communication & journalism education:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 132 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.