Best Communication and Media colleges in Illinois

Best Communication and Media colleges in Illinois for 2026

DePaul University
Chicago, IL

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.

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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers 6 Communication and Media degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2024, 318 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 296 Bachelor's degrees, 11 Master's degrees, and 11 Doctoral degrees.

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Northwestern University offers 20 Communication and Media degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2024, 694 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 441 Master's degrees, 233 Bachelor's degrees, 11 Certificates, and 9 Doctoral degrees.

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale offers 13 Communication and Media degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2024, 60 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 47 Bachelor's degrees, 8 Master's degrees, and 5 Doctoral degrees.

Eastern Illinois University offers 7 Communication and Media degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a remote town. In 2024, 132 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 96 Bachelor's degrees, 24 Master's degrees, and 12 Certificates.

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 2024, 105 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 104 Bachelor's degrees, and 1 Master's degree.

University of Illinois Chicago offers 4 Communication and Media degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 106 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 103 Bachelor's degrees, and 3 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 2024, 142 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 142 Bachelor's degrees.

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Loyola University Chicago offers 8 Communication and Media degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 166 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 142 Bachelor's degrees, and 24 Master's degrees.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville offers 4 Communication and Media degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2024, 59 Communication and Media students graduated with students earning 50 Bachelor's degrees, and 9 Master's degrees.

Find local colleges with Communication and Media majors in Illinois

List of all Communication and Media colleges in Illinois

School Average Tuition Student Teacher Ratio Enrolled Students
DePaul University Logo DePaul University Chicago, IL
5/5
25 : 1 21,210
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Logo University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL
4/5
23 : 1 59,238
Northwestern University Logo Northwestern University Evanston, IL
5/5
15 : 1 23,856
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Logo Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale, IL
3/5
18 : 1 11,790
Eastern Illinois University Logo Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL
3/5
22 : 1 8,505