ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Communication Sciences Schools in Illinois

16 Colleges in the United States
952 Communication Sciences Degrees Awarded
$56,818 Avg Early-Career Salary

Communication Sciences programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for communication sciences students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 1
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 51.02), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Communications Disorders (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Communications Disorders (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 1
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 1 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 1
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 0 offers with relevance >= 1.0
DEBUG: Backfilling with 1 offers with relevance >= 0.9

Best Schools for Communication Sciences in Illinois

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall communication sciences education in Illinois.

Top Schools in Communication Sciences

1

Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the best school in the country for a degree in communication sciences. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 123 communication sciences students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $72,396. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree. Get the full communication sciences details for Northwestern University

2

Students looking for a strong communication sciences program will find one at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #2. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 105 communication sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $49,125. Students borrow a median of $21,117 to complete this degree. Get the full communication sciences details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

3
Rush University crest
Rush University
Chicago, IL

A rank of #3 makes Rush University one of the top schools for communication sciences. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Rush University awarded about 62 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from Rush University earn around $72,979 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,206 to complete this degree. Read more about the communication sciences program at Rush University

4

Students looking for a strong communication sciences program will find one at Midwestern University Downers Grove, which ranked #4. Midwestern University Downers Grove is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Downers Grove. There were roughly 40 communication sciences students who graduated with this degree at Midwestern University Downers Grove in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from Midwestern University Downers Grove earn around $63,128 in the first couple years of their career. Get the full communication sciences details for Midwestern University Downers Grove

5

Saint Xavier University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication sciences, ranking #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 60 communication sciences degrees were awarded at Saint Xavier University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $64,446. Students borrow a median of $16,420 to complete this degree. Read more about the communication sciences program at Saint Xavier University

6

Illinois State University landed the #6 spot for communication sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Illinois State University awarded about 127 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from Illinois State University earn around $54,477 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. See the full communication sciences program report for Illinois State University

7
Elmhurst College crest
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College came in at #7 for communication sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Elmhurst College graduates 70% of students within six years. About 70 communication sciences degrees were awarded at Elmhurst College in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from Elmhurst College earn around $57,711 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500. More information about a degree in communication sciences from Elmhurst College

8
Lewis University crest
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL

Lewis University placed #8 among the best communication sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 38 communication sciences degrees were awarded at Lewis University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from Lewis University earn around $55,718 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,838. Read more about the communication sciences program at Lewis University

9

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #9 for communication sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 43 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn around $53,653 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Read more about the communication sciences program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

10

Northern Illinois University landed the #10 spot for communication sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. About 49% of students finish within six years. About 55 communication sciences degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Communication Sciences graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $46,477 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500. More information about a degree in communication sciences from Northern Illinois University

11
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University came in at #11 for communication sciences this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 52 communication sciences students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $55,226. Students borrow a median of $25,310 to complete this degree. Get the full communication sciences details for Depaul University

12

Augustana College Illinois earned the #12 position for communication sciences this year. Located in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Augustana College Illinois graduates 73% of students within six years. There were roughly 35 communication sciences students who graduated with this degree at Augustana College Illinois in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication sciences program make about $39,096 in their early career. Augustana College Illinois graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full communication sciences details for Augustana College Illinois

13

Eastern Illinois University came in at #13 for communication sciences this year. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. Eastern Illinois University graduates 47% of students within six years. Eastern Illinois University awarded about 52 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $59,451. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree. See the full communication sciences program report for Eastern Illinois University

14

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #14 spot for communication sciences this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates 60% of students within six years. About 27 communication sciences degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn around $49,096 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates carry a median of $22,225 in student loans. Read more about the communication sciences program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

15

Western Illinois University placed #15 among the best communication sciences schools. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Western Illinois University awarded about 27 communication sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from Western Illinois University earn around $56,611 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,375. See the full communication sciences program report for Western Illinois University

16
Governors State University crest
Governors State University
University Park, IL

Governors State University placed #16 among the best communication sciences 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 36 communication sciences students who graduated with this degree at Governors State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication sciences degree from Governors State University earn around $59,492 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the communication sciences program at Governors State University

ADBLOCK #173
View All Communication Sciences Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 20 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options