2027 Best Visual Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Visual Communications degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual communications students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Visual Communications 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 visual communications degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Visual Communications
University Of Notre Dame is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in visual communications. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $46,825 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual communications program at University Of Notre Dame
Purdue University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual communications, landing the #2 spot this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 28 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $44,602 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual communications program at Purdue University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong visual communications program will find one at Ohio State University Main Campus, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 15 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $45,176. Students borrow a median of $25,100 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual communications details for Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Dayton came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best visual communications schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dayton. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 29 visual communications degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $43,609 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,033.
See the full visual communications program report for University Of Dayton
Students looking for a strong visual communications program will find one at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 72 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual communications degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $52,526 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,851 to complete this degree.
See the full visual communications program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Indiana University Bloomington ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best visual communications schools. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 31 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $26,421. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $21,064 in student loans.
Read more about the visual communications program at Indiana University Bloomington
Loyola University Chicago came in at #7 for visual communications this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 17 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Visual Communications graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans.
See the full visual communications program report for Loyola University Chicago
Madison Area Technical College placed #8 among the best visual communications schools. Located in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public university. Madison Area Technical College awarded about 15 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $30,710 in their early career. Madison Area Technical College graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans.
Read more about the visual communications program at Madison Area Technical College
Kent State University At Kent ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best visual communications schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kent. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Kent State University At Kent awarded about 93 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $36,351 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full visual communications program report for Kent State University At Kent
College Of Dupage came in at #10 for visual communications this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. College Of Dupage awarded about 35 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $31,798. Students borrow a median of $11,077 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual communications details for College Of Dupage
Ball State University came in at #11 for visual communications this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. Ball State University awarded about 28 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual communications degree from Ball State University earn around $36,864 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
See the full visual communications program report for Ball State University
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay placed #12 among the best visual communications schools. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Green Bay in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $32,991 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,186 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual communications details for University Of Wisconsin Green Bay
Columbus State Community College came in at #13 for visual communications this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public institution. About 118 visual communications degrees were awarded at Columbus State Community College in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $9,041.
Read more about the visual communications program at Columbus State Community College
Western Technical College La Cross came in at #14 for visual communications this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a large public institution. About 16 visual communications degrees were awarded at Western Technical College La Cross in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from Western Technical College La Cross generally make around $23,032. Typical student debt for the program is $12,057.
Read more about the visual communications program at Western Technical College La Cross
Sinclair Community College earned the #15 position for visual communications this year. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 12 visual communications students who graduated with this degree at Sinclair Community College in the most recent data year. Visual Communications graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $24,490 early in their careers. Sinclair Community College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
Get the full visual communications details for Sinclair Community College
Elmhurst College landed the #16 spot for visual communications this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elmhurst. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 19 visual communications degrees were awarded at Elmhurst College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual communications degree from Elmhurst College earn around $51,232 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,400.
More information about a degree in visual communications from Elmhurst College
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #17 for visual communications this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates 61% of students within six years. About 45 visual communications degrees were awarded at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $35,645 in their early career. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full visual communications program report for Bowling Green State University Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #18 position for visual communications this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates 53% of students within six years. About 31 visual communications degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual communications program make about $46,561 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,657 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual communications program at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #19 for visual communications this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Ivy Tech Community College awarded about 239 visual communications degrees in the most recent data year. Visual Communications graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $26,602 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,710.
See the full visual communications program report for Ivy Tech Community College
Art Academy Of Cincinnati came in at #20 for visual communications this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cincinnati. About 41% of students finish within six years. About 12 visual communications degrees were awarded at Art Academy Of Cincinnati in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual communications degree from Art Academy Of Cincinnati earn around $20,921 in the first couple years of their career. Art Academy Of Cincinnati graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full visual communications program report for Art Academy Of Cincinnati
Zane State College landed the #21 spot for visual communications this year. Set in the town of Zanesville, Zane State College is a mid-sized public institution. About 10 visual communications degrees were awarded at Zane State College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual communications degree from Zane State College earn around $35,764 in the first couple years of their career. Zane State College graduates carry a median of $9,405 in student loans.
Get the full visual communications details for Zane State College
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 21 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.
