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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Speech Communication Schools in Illinois

16 Colleges in the United States
621 Speech Communication Degrees Awarded
$39,160 Avg Early-Career Salary

Speech Communication degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their speech communication programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 schools to find the best for speech communication students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Speech Communication 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 speech communication degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Speech Communication

1

Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 school for speech communication. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 87 speech communication degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the speech communication program make about $69,611 in their early career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $18,112 in student loans. Get the full speech communication details for Northwestern University

2

A rank of #2 makes Illinois State University one of the top schools for speech communication. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. About 144 speech communication degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their speech communication degree from Illinois State University earn around $41,670 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,125 to complete this degree. Get the full speech communication details for Illinois State University

3
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Students looking for a strong speech communication program will find one at Depaul University, which ranked #3. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 36 speech communication students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Speech Communication graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $40,421 early in their careers. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $22,916 in student loans. Get the full speech communication details for Depaul University

4

Wheaton College Illinois is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in speech communication, landing the #4 spot this year. 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 speech communication degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $39,321. Wheaton College Illinois graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Get the full speech communication details for Wheaton College Illinois

5

Loyola University Chicago came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best speech communication schools. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 33 speech communication degrees in the most recent data year. Speech Communication graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $31,495 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in speech communication from Loyola University Chicago

6

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #6 position for speech communication this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 44 speech communication students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Students who receive their speech communication degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn around $36,569 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,759. Read more about the speech communication program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

7

Northern Illinois University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best speech communication schools. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 72 speech communication degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Students who receive their speech communication degree from Northern Illinois University earn around $38,490 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full speech communication details for Northern Illinois University

8
Lake Forest College crest
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL

Lake Forest College earned the #8 position for speech communication this year. Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lake Forest. Lake Forest College graduates 78% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 speech communication students who graduated with this degree at Lake Forest College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from Lake Forest College generally make around $42,835. Lake Forest College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full speech communication details for Lake Forest College

9
Aurora University crest
Aurora University
Aurora, IL

Aurora University came in at #9 for speech communication this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Aurora. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Aurora University awarded about 19 speech communication degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their speech communication degree from Aurora University earn around $30,728 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,262 to complete this degree. Get the full speech communication details for Aurora University

10

Benedictine University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best speech communication schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Lisle. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Benedictine University awarded about 11 speech communication degrees in the most recent data year. Speech Communication graduates of Benedictine University earn a median of $30,334 early in their careers. Benedictine University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in speech communication from Benedictine University

11

Saint Xavier University placed #11 among the best speech communication schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 speech communication students who graduated with this degree at Saint Xavier University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $32,169. Saint Xavier University graduates carry a median of $26,311 in student loans. Get the full speech communication details for Saint Xavier University

12

Western Illinois University placed #12 among the best speech communication schools. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Western Illinois University graduates 45% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 speech communication students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $34,142. Western Illinois University graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in speech communication from Western Illinois University

13

North Park University earned the #13 position for speech communication this year. Set in the city of Chicago, North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 10 speech communication degrees were awarded at North Park University in the most recent year. Graduates of the speech communication program make about $51,611 in their early career. North Park University graduates carry a median of $27,360 in student loans. See the full speech communication program report for North Park University

14
Governors State University crest
Governors State University
University Park, IL

Governors State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best speech communication 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 10 speech communication students who graduated with this degree at Governors State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $27,071. Typical student debt for the program is $20,340. Get the full speech communication details for Governors State University

15

Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #15 position for speech communication this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 speech communication students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent data year. Speech Communication graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $32,465 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,543 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in speech communication from Southern Illinois University Carbondale

16

Devry University Illinois earned the #16 position for speech communication this year. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Devry University Illinois is a very large private for-profit university. About 18% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 speech communication students who graduated with this degree at Devry University Illinois in the most recent data year. Students who receive their speech communication degree from Devry University Illinois earn around $47,622 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $56,858. See the full speech communication program report for Devry University Illinois

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 28 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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