Best Communication and Media colleges in Illinois
Why a degree in communications and media?
Forms of communication are changing, and you are adapting just fine. You easily manage 8 social media accounts, read news online, and even write a travel blog. You are just as versatile as the degree you’re pursuing.
What communications and media degree options exist?
Good communication is important in any career, professional network, or relationship, so it’s no wonder it’s one of the top 10 most popular fields of study*. Though most of the careers within the communications field aren’t experiencing peak growth, jobs like technical writers and interpreters are growing at 15% and 46%*. In addition, the rapid growth of social media is leading to an increase in professions in online communication.
Humans will never stop communicating. A degree in communications and media is extremely versatile and can lead to paths in a variety of fields. The art of paper and pen may be lost, but with shortened attention spans, there’s never been a greater need for communication and media experts.
*National Center for Education StatisticsBest Communication and Media colleges in Illinois for 2021
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers 8 Communication and Media degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2019, 359 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 336 Bachelor's degrees, 13 Doctoral degrees, and 10 Master's degrees.
Northwestern University offers 13 Communication and Media degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2019, 442 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 261 Bachelor's degrees, 176 Master's degrees, 3 Doctoral degrees, and 2 Certificates.
Imagine the possibility of interning at a powerhouse such as Leo Burnett, Tribune Interactive, or the American Marketing Association. With DePaul’s connections and ideal location in downtown Chicago, such real-world experiences can be part of your degree program. No wonder communication was the second most popular major among graduates of the class of 2013. The College of Communication offers eight undergraduate programs: communication and media, communication studies, intercultural communication, journalism, media and cinema studies, organizational communication, public relations and advertising, and relational communication. DePaul also conducts seven graduate programs as well as dual options in which highly motivated undergraduates can earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in five years. The university is particularly proud of its communications faculty – professors with years of experience in some of the biggest media markets in the nation as well as scholars publishing in top journals. Adding to the experience are DePaul’s extracurricular offerings. Its student newspaper (The DePaulia) won 15 awards from the Illinois College Press Association in 2014, and Radio DePaul was named the nation’s “Best Streaming College Radio Station” by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System in 2012.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale offers 13 Communication and Media degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2019, 94 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 83 Bachelor's degrees, 6 Master's degrees, and 5 Doctoral degrees.
Columbia College Chicago offers 9 Communication and Media degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 202 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 196 Bachelor's degrees, and 6 Master's degrees.
Eastern Illinois University offers 10 Communication and Media degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2019, 112 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 98 Bachelor's degrees, 13 Master's degrees, and 1 Certificate.
University of Illinois at Chicago offers 4 Communication and Media degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 94 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 88 Bachelor's degrees, 4 Doctoral degrees, and 2 Master's degrees.
Loyola University Chicago offers 7 Communication and Media degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 187 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 157 Bachelor's degrees, and 30 Master's degrees.
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville offers 3 Communication and Media degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 84 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 82 Bachelor's degrees, and 2 Master's degrees.
Illinois State University offers 3 Communication and Media degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2019, 187 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 187 Bachelor's degrees.
List of all Communication and Media colleges in Illinois
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL | 22 : 1 | 51,605 | |
|
Northwestern University Evanston, IL | 15 : 1 | 22,448 | |
|
DePaul University Chicago, IL | 25 : 1 | 22,064 | |
|
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale, IL | 18 : 1 | 11,695 | |
|
Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL | 27 : 1 | 6,947 | |
|
Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL | 21 : 1 | 7,806 | |
|
University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL | 19 : 1 | 32,324 | |
|
Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL | 20 : 1 | 17,159 | |
|
College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, IL | 87 : 1 | 23,903 | |
|
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL | 21 : 1 | 13,061 | |
|
Illinois State University Normal, IL | 23 : 1 | 20,878 | |
|
Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, IL | 25 : 1 | 7,423 | |
|
Illinois Media School-Chicago Campus Chicago, IL | 261 | ||
|
Bradley University Peoria, IL | 17 : 1 | 5,929 | |
|
Western Illinois University Macomb, IL | 16 : 1 | 7,624 | |
|
University of Illinois at Springfield Springfield, IL | 21 : 1 | 4,275 | |
|
Illinois Media School Lombard, IL | 99 | ||
|
Lake Land College Mattoon, IL | 43 : 1 | 4,466 | |
|
SAE Institute of Technology-Chicago Chicago, IL | 75 : 1 | 300 | |
|
Triton College River Grove, IL | 97 : 1 | 9,571 | |