2026 Best Value Speech Communication Schools in Illinois
[Speech Communication](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/speech-communication/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong speech communication education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 28 schools to find the best return on investment for speech communication students.
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2026 Best Value Speech Communication Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in speech communication, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Speech Communication Schools
For return on investment in speech communication, no school beat Governors State University this year. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. Students from in state pay about $12,004 in tuition and fees. Speech Communication graduates carry a median of $20,340 in student loans. Speech Communication graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $27,071 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Western Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in speech communication, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,572. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $30,000. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $34,142. That is a strong return on a $30,000 median debt. Western Illinois University admits about 71% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Xavier University earned it the #3 place for speech communication. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,945. Students borrow a median of $26,311 to complete the speech communication program here. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $32,169. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in speech communication, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $27,000. Early-career speech communication graduates make about $38,490. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned it the #5 place for speech communication. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,092. Speech Communication graduates carry a median of $21,759 in student loans. Early-career speech communication graduates make about $36,569. That is a strong return on a $21,759 median debt. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
Concordia University Chicago landed the #6 spot for speech communication value this year. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $37,488 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $26,956. Speech Communication graduates of Concordia University Chicago earn a median of $58,760 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Concordia University Chicago admits about 93% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value speech communication schools. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Speech Communication graduates carry a median of $26,543 in student loans. Early-career speech communication graduates make about $32,465. That is a strong return on a $26,543 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Illinois State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value speech communication schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Speech Communication graduates carry a median of $20,125 in student loans. Early-career speech communication graduates make about $41,670. That is a strong return on a $20,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
North Park University placed #9 among the best values for speech communication. Located in the city of Chicago, North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $36,710 in tuition and fees. Speech Communication graduates carry a median of $27,360 in student loans. Speech Communication graduates of North Park University earn a median of $51,611 early in their careers. Set against $27,360 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Aurora University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value speech communication schools. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,170. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $23,262. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $30,728. That is a strong return on a $23,262 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Olivet Nazarene University landed the #11 spot for speech communication value this year. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. Students from in state pay about $38,900 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $23,259. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Benedictine University placed #12 among the best values for speech communication. Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,648. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from Benedictine University generally make around $30,334. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Benedictine University admits about 95% of applicants.
Wheaton College Illinois earned the #13 position for value in speech communication this year. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,546 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the speech communication program here. Speech Communication graduates of Wheaton College Illinois earn a median of $39,321 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Northwestern University earned the #14 position for value in speech communication this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $18,112. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $69,611. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Lake Forest College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value speech communication schools. Located in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,402. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the speech communication program here. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from Lake Forest College generally make around $42,835. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lake Forest College admits about 57% of applicants.
Depaul University placed #16 among the best values for speech communication. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $22,916. Speech Communication graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $40,421 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
Devry University Illinois ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value speech communication schools. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Devry University Illinois is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,008. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $56,858. Early-career speech communication graduates make about $47,622. That is a strong return on a $56,858 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value speech communication schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $25,000. Speech Communication graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $31,495 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
More Speech Communication Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
