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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Illinois

23 Colleges in the United States
1,405 Communication & Media Studies Degrees Awarded
$38,938 Avg Early-Career Salary

Communication & Media Studies 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 44 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for communication & media studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Communication & Media Studies 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 & media studies degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Communication & Media Studies

1

No school ranked higher than University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign this year for communication & media studies. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 242 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $37,808. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. See the full communication & media studies program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

2

Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #2. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 88 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $69,611 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,112. See the full communication & media studies program report for Northwestern University

3

A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the top schools for communication & media studies. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 95 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $38,912 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans. Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Illinois At Chicago

4

Students looking for a strong communication & media studies program will find one at Illinois State University, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 206 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $41,670 in their early career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $20,125 in student loans. Get the full communication & media studies details for Illinois State University

5
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & media studies, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. 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. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $40,421 in their early career. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $22,916 in student loans. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Depaul University

6

Concordia University Chicago landed the #6 spot for communication & media studies this year. Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. 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. Students borrow a median of $26,956 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Concordia University Chicago

7

Wheaton College Illinois ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wheaton College Illinois awarded about 34 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $39,321. Wheaton College Illinois graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Wheaton College Illinois

8

Loyola University Chicago landed the #8 spot for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 49 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $31,495. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Loyola University Chicago

9

National Louis University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 30%. There were roughly 22 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at National Louis University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $53,733 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,242 to complete this degree. Get the full communication & media studies details for National Louis University

10

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #10 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 103 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $36,569. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $21,759 in student loans. Get the full communication & media studies details for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

11

Eastern Illinois University earned the #11 position for communication & media studies this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. Eastern Illinois University graduates 47% of students within six years. Eastern Illinois University awarded about 71 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Eastern Illinois University earn around $40,683 in the first couple years of their career. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Eastern Illinois University

12

Northern Illinois University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 72 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $38,490 in their early career. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full communication & media studies details for Northern Illinois University

13
Lake Forest College crest
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL

Lake Forest College placed #13 among the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit university. Lake Forest College graduates 78% of students within six years. About 28 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Lake Forest College in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Lake Forest College earn a median of $42,835 early in their careers. Lake Forest College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Lake Forest College

14

Northeastern Illinois University came in at #14 for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 22% of students finish within six years. About 32 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $32,538 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,630. See the full communication & media studies program report for Northeastern Illinois University

15
Aurora University crest
Aurora University
Aurora, IL

Aurora University placed #15 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Aurora University graduates 60% of students within six years. About 19 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $30,728 early in their careers. Aurora University graduates carry a median of $23,262 in student loans. See the full communication & media studies program report for Aurora University

16

University Of Illinois At Springfield placed #16 among the best communication & media studies schools. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Springfield awarded about 31 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $32,050 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,322 to complete this degree. Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of Illinois At Springfield

17

Benedictine University came in at #17 for communication & media studies this year. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Benedictine University awarded about 11 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from Benedictine University earn around $30,334 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Get the full communication & media studies details for Benedictine University

18

Saint Xavier University came in at #18 for communication & media studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Saint Xavier University graduates 57% of students within six years. Saint Xavier University awarded about 14 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $32,169 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,311 to complete this degree. See the full communication & media studies program report for Saint Xavier University

19

Olivet Nazarene University came in at #19 for communication & media studies this year. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Olivet Nazarene University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $23,259. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full communication & media studies details for Olivet Nazarene University

20

Western Illinois University landed the #20 spot for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Macomb. Western Illinois University graduates 45% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $34,142. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete this degree. See the full communication & media studies program report for Western Illinois University

21

North Park University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 10 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at North Park University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & media studies degree from North Park University earn around $51,611 in the first couple years of their career. North Park University graduates carry a median of $27,360 in student loans. Read more about the communication & media studies program at North Park University

22
Governors State University crest
Governors State University
University Park, IL

Governors State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public university. Governors State University graduates 21% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Governors State University in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $27,071 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,340 to complete this degree. Get the full communication & media studies details for Governors State University

23

Columbia College Chicago landed the #23 spot for communication & media studies this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. Columbia College Chicago awarded about 15 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $29,160. Columbia College Chicago graduates carry a median of $26,557 in student loans. Get the full communication & media studies details for Columbia College Chicago

24

Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #24 position for communication & media studies this year. This large public university is located in the town of Carbondale. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $32,465 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,543 to complete this degree. Get the full communication & media studies details for Southern Illinois University Carbondale

25

Devry University Illinois ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Devry University Illinois is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. About 18% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Devry University Illinois in the most recent data year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of Devry University Illinois earn a median of $47,622 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $56,858 to complete this degree. Read more about the communication & media studies program at Devry University Illinois

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 44 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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