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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall communication & media studies education in the Great Lakes Region.
Our analysis ranked University Of Michigan Ann Arbor the best school in the country for a degree in communication & media studies. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 219 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $50,556. Students borrow a median of $20,376 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 242 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $37,808 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 88 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $69,611 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $18,112 in student loans.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Northwestern University
Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #4. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 243 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $59,776. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Purdue University Main Campus
A rank of #5 makes Ohio State University Main Campus one of the top schools for communication & media studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. About 88% of students finish within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 451 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $41,232 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #6 for communication & media studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 261 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $37,286 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Dayton landed the #7 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Dayton awarded about 169 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $42,629 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,375 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of Dayton
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 95 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $38,912 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,750.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at University Of Illinois At Chicago
Illinois State University landed the #9 spot for communication & media studies this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 206 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $41,670 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,125 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Illinois State University
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #10 spot for communication & media studies this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 355 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $36,700 in the first couple years of their career. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Indiana University Bloomington
Miami University Oxford placed #11 among the best communication & media studies schools. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. Miami University Oxford graduates 80% of students within six years. Miami University Oxford awarded about 38 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $34,959. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Miami University Oxford
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse landed the #12 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. About 69 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn around $40,293 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,455 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Wisconsin La Crosse
Michigan State University placed #13 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. About 294 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $36,390. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Michigan State University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #14 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 221 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $39,953. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,869 in student loans.
Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Marquette University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 43 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $36,443. Typical student debt for the program is $23,531.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Marquette University
Denison University earned the #16 position for communication & media studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Granville. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 47 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Denison University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $47,396 in their early career. Denison University graduates carry a median of $25,187 in student loans.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Denison University
Concordia University Wisconsin ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 12 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Wisconsin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $58,227 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,172 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Concordia University Wisconsin
Depaul University came in at #18 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 123 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $40,421 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,916.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Depaul University
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire landed the #19 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 34 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn around $40,333 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,730.
Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Concordia University Chicago came in at #20 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Concordia University Chicago graduates 36% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Concordia University Chicago earn around $58,760 in the first couple years of their career. Concordia University Chicago graduates carry a median of $26,956 in student loans.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Concordia University Chicago
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #21 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 275 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $36,666 early in their careers. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,063 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Ohio University Main Campus
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis awarded about 55 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $39,775 in their early career. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
John Carroll University placed #23 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of University Heights, John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 39 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at John Carroll University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $41,072 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at John Carroll University
Depauw University landed the #24 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the town of Greencastle, Depauw University is a small private not-for-profit university. Depauw University graduates 75% of students within six years. Depauw University awarded about 47 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Depauw University earn a median of $43,141 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Depauw University
Wheaton College Illinois earned the #25 position for communication & media studies 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. About 34 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $39,321. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
Get the full communication & media studies details for Wheaton College Illinois
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communication & media studies ranking:
Honorable Mentions
These schools earned honorable mentions for communication & media studies:
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