Compare 29 Communication, General. programs in Illinois. Average earnings: $45,465.
The highest-earning Communication, General. program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $34K earnings gap across 29 programs in Illinois, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Northwestern University's Communication program leads with graduates earning $77,066, well above the state average of $45,465. But University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign follows closely at $61,211 with a much larger cohort of 317 students—demonstrating that public programs can deliver strong outcomes at scale.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $77,066 | 101 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Good |
| #2 | $61,211 | 317 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Challenging | |
| #3 | Lake Forest CollegePrivate | $55,601 | 30 | $26,158 | Good | $35,000 | High |
| #4 | Augustana CollegePrivate | $52,732 | 42 | $27,000 | Manageable | $37,219 | High |
| #5 | $50,527 | 164 | $22,162 | Good | $19,508 | Challenging | |
| #6 | $49,603 | 41 | $21,500 | Good | $17,781 | Challenging | |
| #7 | $49,576 | 172 | $20,482 | Good | $28,767 | High | |
| #8 | $49,569 | 86 | $16,704 | Good | $24,323 | Challenging | |
| #9 | Aurora UniversityPrivate | $48,651 | 44 | $20,318 | Good | $19,500 | Challenging |
| #10 | Saint Xavier UniversityPrivate | $48,379 | 26 | $22,223 | Good | $20,742 | Challenging |
| #11 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $48,323 | 168 | $23,168 | Manageable | $41,563 | High |
| #12 | $46,791 | 53 | $25,251 | Manageable | $20,764 | High | |
| #13 | Benedictine UniversityPrivate | $46,143 | 24 | $22,500 | Manageable | $22,900 | High |
| #14 | Millikin UniversityPrivate | $45,295 | 18 | $27,000 | Manageable | $25,486 | High |
| #15 | Wheaton CollegePrivate | $45,185 | 43 | $23,250 | Manageable | $35,000 | High |
| #16 | Olivet Nazarene UniversityPrivate | $44,660 | 24 | $25,000 | Manageable | $21,966 | High |
| #17 | $44,438 | 43 | $18,618 | Good | $13,991 | Challenging | |
| #18 | $44,045 | 32 | $19,128 | Manageable | $13,450 | Challenging | |
| #19 | North Park UniversityPrivate | $43,756 | 16 | $25,500 | Manageable | $24,179 | High |
| #20 | $42,769 | 70 | $14,600 | Good | $13,578 | Challenging | |
| #21 | $42,405 | 128 | $20,500 | Manageable | $21,500 | High | |
| #22 | Monmouth CollegePrivate | $39,935 | 13 | $27,000 | Challenging | $27,185 | High |
| #23 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | $39,751 | 33 | $24,157 | Challenging | $54,045 | High |
| #24 | Quincy UniversityPrivate | $36,441 | 8 | $24,000 | Challenging | $16,609 | High |
| #25 | $36,198 | 14 | $26,082 | High | $19,098 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
