2026 Best General Communication Sciences & Disorders Schools in the Great Lakes Region
General Communication Sciences & Disorders degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 37 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general communication sciences & disorders students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for General Communication Sciences & Disorders 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 general communication sciences & disorders degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in General Communication Sciences & Disorders
Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the best school in the country for a degree in general communication sciences & disorders. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 general communication sciences & disorders degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general communication sciences & disorders degree from Northwestern University earn around $72,396 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
See the full general communication sciences & disorders program report for Northwestern University
Butler University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best general communication sciences & disorders schools. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 31 general communication sciences & disorders students who graduated with this degree at Butler University in the most recent data year. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates of Butler University earn a median of $68,222 early in their careers. Butler University graduates carry a median of $25,351 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general communication sciences & disorders from Butler University
Michigan State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best general communication sciences & disorders schools. 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. About 51 general communication sciences & disorders degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general communication sciences & disorders program make about $57,845 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,213.
Read more about the general communication sciences & disorders program at Michigan State University
Case Western Reserve University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general communication sciences & disorders schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cleveland. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Case Western Reserve University awarded about 12 general communication sciences & disorders degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general communication sciences & disorders degree from Case Western Reserve University earn around $74,459 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general communication sciences & disorders from Case Western Reserve University
Grand Valley State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general communication sciences & disorders, ranking #5. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 54 general communication sciences & disorders degrees were awarded at Grand Valley State University in the most recent year. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $57,167 early in their careers. Grand Valley State University graduates carry a median of $26,378 in student loans.
See the full general communication sciences & disorders program report for Grand Valley State University
Elmhurst College placed #6 among the best general communication sciences & disorders schools. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Elmhurst College graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 70 general communication sciences & disorders students who graduated with this degree at Elmhurst College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general communication sciences & disorders degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $57,711. Elmhurst College graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general communication sciences & disorders from Elmhurst College
Calvin College earned the #7 position for general communication sciences & disorders this year. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 general communication sciences & disorders degrees were awarded at Calvin College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general communication sciences & disorders degree recipients from Calvin College generally make around $63,533. Calvin College graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans.
Read more about the general communication sciences & disorders program at Calvin College
Central Michigan University landed the #8 spot for general communication sciences & disorders this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Central Michigan University graduates 59% of students within six years. About 53 general communication sciences & disorders degrees were awarded at Central Michigan University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general communication sciences & disorders degree from Central Michigan University earn around $51,591 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,992 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general communication sciences & disorders program at Central Michigan University
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for general communication sciences & disorders this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 46 general communication sciences & disorders students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general communication sciences & disorders degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $58,412. Students borrow a median of $24,625 to complete this degree.
Get the full general communication sciences & disorders details for Ohio University Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best general communication sciences & disorders schools. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 138 general communication sciences & disorders students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general communication sciences & disorders degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $56,983. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general communication sciences & disorders from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Wayne State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general communication sciences & disorders schools. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Wayne State University graduates 58% of students within six years. Wayne State University awarded about 76 general communication sciences & disorders degrees in the most recent data year. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $41,122 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,849 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general communication sciences & disorders program at Wayne State University
Northern Illinois University earned the #12 position for general communication sciences & disorders this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northern Illinois University awarded about 50 general communication sciences & disorders degrees in the most recent data year. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $46,477 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
See the full general communication sciences & disorders program report for Northern Illinois University
Augustana College Illinois placed #13 among the best general communication sciences & disorders schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Rock Island. Augustana College Illinois graduates 73% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 general communication sciences & disorders students who graduated with this degree at Augustana College Illinois in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general communication sciences & disorders program make about $39,096 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general communication sciences & disorders program at Augustana College Illinois
Eastern Illinois University placed #14 among the best general communication sciences & disorders schools. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. About 52 general communication sciences & disorders degrees were awarded at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent year. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $59,451 early in their careers. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
Read more about the general communication sciences & disorders program at Eastern Illinois University
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #15 spot for general communication sciences & disorders this year. This large public university is located in the town of Bowling Green. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 62 general communication sciences & disorders students who graduated with this degree at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general communication sciences & disorders program make about $56,499 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,943 to complete this degree.
See the full general communication sciences & disorders program report for Bowling Green State University Main Campus
University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #16 spot for general communication sciences & disorders this year. This large public university is located in the city of Akron. About 52% of students finish within six years. About 17 general communication sciences & disorders degrees were awarded at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent year. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $51,305 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
See the full general communication sciences & disorders program report for University Of Akron Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #17 for general communication sciences & disorders this year. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point graduates 56% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point awarded about 57 general communication sciences & disorders degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general communication sciences & disorders program make about $55,083 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,750.
More information about a degree in general communication sciences & disorders from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Baldwin Wallace College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general communication sciences & disorders schools. Set in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Baldwin Wallace College awarded about 11 general communication sciences & disorders degrees in the most recent data year. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates of Baldwin Wallace College earn a median of $49,173 early in their careers. Baldwin Wallace College graduates carry a median of $27,307 in student loans.
See the full general communication sciences & disorders program report for Baldwin Wallace College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best general communication sciences & disorders schools. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates 60% of students within six years. About 27 general communication sciences & disorders degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Graduates of the general communication sciences & disorders program make about $49,096 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,225 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general communication sciences & disorders from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Western Illinois University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best general communication sciences & disorders schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Macomb. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. About 27 general communication sciences & disorders degrees were awarded at Western Illinois University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general communication sciences & disorders program make about $56,611 in their early career. Western Illinois University graduates carry a median of $20,375 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general communication sciences & disorders from Western Illinois University
Saint Marys College placed #21 among the best general communication sciences & disorders schools. Saint Marys College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 general communication sciences & disorders students who graduated with this degree at Saint Marys College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general communication sciences & disorders program make about $56,123 in their early career. Saint Marys College graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
Read more about the general communication sciences & disorders program at Saint Marys College
Indiana State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best general communication sciences & disorders schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Terre Haute. Indiana State University graduates 43% of students within six years. Indiana State University awarded about 11 general communication sciences & disorders degrees in the most recent data year. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $58,679 early in their careers. Indiana State University graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans.
Get the full general communication sciences & disorders details for Indiana State University
University Of Wisconsin River Falls placed #23 among the best general communication sciences & disorders schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of River Falls. University Of Wisconsin River Falls graduates 57% of students within six years. About 49 general communication sciences & disorders degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin River Falls in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general communication sciences & disorders degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin River Falls generally make around $61,494. University Of Wisconsin River Falls graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general communication sciences & disorders from University Of Wisconsin River Falls
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater came in at #24 for general communication sciences & disorders this year. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 42 general communication sciences & disorders degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent year. Students who receive their general communication sciences & disorders degree from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn around $58,302 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates carry a median of $26,211 in student loans.
Get the full general communication sciences & disorders details for University Of Wisconsin Whitewater
Governors State University came in at #25 for general communication sciences & disorders this year. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 21%. Governors State University awarded about 12 general communication sciences & disorders degrees in the most recent data year. General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $59,492 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general communication sciences & disorders from Governors State University
Narrow General Communication Sciences & Disorders Schools by State
More General Communication Sciences & Disorders Rankings
View All General Communication Sciences & Disorders Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 37 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.