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2027 Best Communication & Journalism Schools in Illinois

34 Colleges in the United States
3,444 Communication & Journalism Degrees Awarded
$39,084 Avg Early-Career Salary

Communication & Journalism programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their communication & journalism programs.

For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 34 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for communication & journalism students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Communication & Journalism in Illinois

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

1

No school ranked higher than University Of Chicago this year for communication & journalism. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 52 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $81,002 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854. Read more about the communication & journalism program at University Of Chicago

2

Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & journalism, ranking #2. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 817 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Northwestern University earn around $59,694 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $15,954 in student loans. See the full communication & journalism program report for Northwestern University

3

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best communication & journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 530 communication & journalism degrees 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. More information about a degree in communication & journalism from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

4

University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 81 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $38,912 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,750 to complete this degree. See the full communication & journalism program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago

5

A rank of #5 makes Illinois State University one of the top schools for communication & journalism. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. About 233 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Illinois State University earn around $42,198 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,559 to complete this degree. Read more about the communication & journalism program at Illinois State University

6

Loyola University Chicago landed the #6 spot for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 180 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $42,035 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,497 to complete this degree. Read more about the communication & journalism program at Loyola University Chicago

7
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University landed the #7 spot 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. Communication & Journalism graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $47,340 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,320. More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Depaul University

8

Wheaton College Illinois landed the #8 spot for communication & journalism this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Wheaton. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Wheaton College Illinois earn a median of $39,321 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree. Read more about the communication & journalism program at Wheaton College Illinois

9

Lewis And Clark Community College placed #9 among the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 47 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Lewis And Clark Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $41,313 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,602. More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Lewis And Clark Community College

10
College Of Dupage crest
College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL

College Of Dupage placed #10 among the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. College Of Dupage awarded about 56 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. Typical student debt for the program is $12,492. Read more about the communication & journalism program at College Of Dupage

11

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #11 for communication & journalism this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 104 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $36,569 early in their careers. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $21,759 in student loans. Read more about the communication & journalism program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

12

National Louis University landed the #12 spot for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. National Louis University graduates 30% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at National Louis University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $53,733. Students borrow a median of $29,242 to complete this degree. Read more about the communication & journalism program at National Louis University

13

Mckendree University came in at #13 for communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Lebanon, Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 13 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Mckendree University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Mckendree University earn around $51,068 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,362. Read more about the communication & journalism program at Mckendree University

14

Augustana College Illinois earned the #14 position for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. About 22 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Augustana College Illinois in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Augustana College Illinois earn around $40,806 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,412. Get the full communication & journalism details for Augustana College Illinois

15

Northern Illinois University landed the #15 spot for communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. About 109 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $36,898 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,058. See the full communication & journalism program report for Northern Illinois University

16

Eastern Illinois University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 118 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $39,223 early in their careers. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $24,008 in student loans. More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Eastern Illinois University

17

Northeastern Illinois University landed the #17 spot for communication & journalism this year. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. About 22% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $32,538 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,630 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Northeastern Illinois University

18
Lake Forest College crest
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL

Lake Forest College landed the #18 spot for communication & journalism this year. Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lake Forest. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. Lake Forest College awarded about 20 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $42,835 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Lake Forest College

19

University Of Illinois At Springfield came in at #19 for communication & journalism this year. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 41 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Springfield in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $32,050 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,322. More information about a degree in communication & journalism from University Of Illinois At Springfield

20
Lake Land College crest
Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL

Lake Land College earned the #20 position for communication & journalism this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Mattoon. There were roughly 17 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Lake Land College in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $30,294 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $7,769 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Lake Land College

21

Benedictine University earned the #21 position for communication & journalism this year. Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. Benedictine University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Benedictine University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Benedictine University earn around $30,334 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. Get the full communication & journalism details for Benedictine University

22
Aurora University crest
Aurora University
Aurora, IL

Aurora University came in at #22 for communication & journalism this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 22 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $30,728 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,262. More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Aurora University

23
Rock Valley College crest
Rock Valley College
Rockford, IL

Rock Valley College earned the #23 position for communication & journalism this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Rockford. Rock Valley College awarded about 11 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Rock Valley College earn a median of $41,080 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,236 to complete this degree. See the full communication & journalism program report for Rock Valley College

24

Saint Xavier University earned the #24 position for communication & journalism this year. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 57% of students finish within six years. Saint Xavier University awarded about 27 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $32,169 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,311 to complete this degree. See the full communication & journalism program report for Saint Xavier University

25

Columbia College Chicago came in at #25 for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 52% of students finish within six years. Columbia College Chicago awarded about 88 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $36,086 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,971 to complete this degree. Get the full communication & journalism details for Columbia College Chicago

Rest of the Top 34 Communication & Journalism Schools

These schools also placed among the best for communication & journalism this year:

26
27
28
Governors State University crest
Governors State University
University Park, IL
29
30
31
32
33
34

View All Communication & Journalism Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 34 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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