2026 Best Value Health Communication Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Health Communication](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/health-communication/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for health communication students.
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2026 Best Value Health Communication Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in health communication, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Health Communication Schools
Our analysis ranked Eastern Illinois University the best value for a degree in health communication in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,377 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. Students borrow a median of $23,745 to complete the health communication program here. Health Communication graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $38,369 early in their careers. Set against $23,745 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in health communication, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the health communication program here. Soon after graduation, health communication degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $54,763. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in health communication, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the health communication program here. Health Communication graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $41,306 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Ohio State University Main Campus one of the best values for health communication. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Health Communication graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans. Health Communication graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $58,088 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in health communication will find it at Grand Valley State University, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,502, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. Students borrow a median of $26,377 to complete the health communication program here. Early-career health communication graduates make about $38,172. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University placed #6 among the best values for health communication. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for health communication graduates is $23,899. Early-career health communication graduates make about $45,158. Set against $23,899 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for health communication value this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Health Communication graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health communication degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #8 for value in health communication this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the health communication program here. Health Communication graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,530 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Otterbein University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value health communication schools. Set in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,548. Typical student debt for health communication graduates is $23,800. Early-career health communication graduates make about $37,430. Set against $23,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Depaul University earned the #10 position for value in health communication this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the health communication program here. Health Communication graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $49,559 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Dayton came in at #11 for value in health communication this year. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,140. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete the health communication program here. Early-career health communication graduates make about $56,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, 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 8 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.
