2027 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in Illinois

[Communication Sciences](/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value communication sciences schools.
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2027 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the communication sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Communication Sciences Schools
Saint Xavier University tops our 2027 list of the best value communication sciences schools in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,945. Students borrow a median of $16,420 to complete the communication sciences program here. Communication Sciences graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $64,446 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Eastern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,377, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. Communication Sciences graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Communication Sciences graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $59,451 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication sciences will find it at Governors State University, which ranked #3. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,004. Communication Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $59,492. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Governors State University admits about 48% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $21,117 to complete the communication sciences program here. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $49,125. Set against $21,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication sciences will find it at Western Illinois University, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,572. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $20,375. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $56,611. That is a strong return on a $20,375 median debt. Western Illinois University admits about 71% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value communication sciences schools. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Communication Sciences graduates carry a median of $22,225 in student loans. Early-career communication sciences graduates make about $49,096. That is a strong return on a $22,225 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University landed the #7 spot for communication sciences value this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the communication sciences program here. Communication Sciences graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $46,477 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #8 spot for communication sciences value this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $19,500. Communication Sciences graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $53,653 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
Lewis University landed the #9 spot for communication sciences value this year. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,200. Communication Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,838 in student loans. Communication Sciences graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $55,718 early in their careers. Set against $24,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Illinois State University came in at #10 for value in communication sciences this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the communication sciences program here. Communication Sciences graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $54,477 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Augustana College Illinois landed the #11 spot for communication sciences value this year. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,598. Communication Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Augustana College Illinois generally make around $39,096. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Elmhurst College came in at #12 for value in communication sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,955. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $20,500. Early-career communication sciences graduates make about $57,711. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Northwestern University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value communication sciences schools. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Communication Sciences graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $72,396. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University earned the #14 position for value in communication sciences this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Students borrow a median of $25,340 to complete the communication sciences program here. Early-career communication sciences graduates make about $55,390. That is a strong return on a $25,340 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
More Communication Sciences Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
- 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.