2026 Best General Graphic Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region

General Graphic Communications 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 11 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general graphic communications students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best General Graphic Communications Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Best Schools for General Graphic Communications in the Great Lakes Region

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 general graphic communications degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in General Graphic Communications

1

Illinois State University
Normal, IL

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

12 General Graphic Communications Degrees Awarded

$49,660 Median Starting Salary

No school ranked higher than Illinois State University this year for general graphic communications. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 general graphic communications students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general graphic communications degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $49,660. Students borrow a median of $21,896 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general graphic communications from Illinois State University

2

Northcentral Technical College
Wausau, WI

Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

23 General Graphic Communications Degrees Awarded

$41,696 Median Starting Salary

Northcentral Technical College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best general graphic communications schools. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 23 general graphic communications students who graduated with this degree at Northcentral Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general graphic communications degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College generally make around $41,696. Typical student debt for the program is $11,709. See the full general graphic communications program report for Northcentral Technical College

Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 11 schools evaluated.

• 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.