Compare 179 Communication, General. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $43,644.
The highest-earning Communication, General. program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $34K earnings gap across 179 programs, 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 $43,644 regional average. But the story extends beyond prestige—University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($66,507) and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($61,211) demonstrate how strong public programs compete directly with elite privates.
| 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 | $66,507 | 242 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Manageable | |
| #3 | $61,211 | 317 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Challenging | |
| #4 | University Of DaytonPrivate | $60,466 | 140 | $23,250 | Good | $43,810 | High |
| #5 | $57,825 | 41 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,729 | Challenging | |
| #6 | $57,735 | 48 | $21,000 | Good | $25,798 | Challenging | |
| #7 | Saint Mary's CollegePrivate | $57,637 | 28 | $27,000 | Good | $48,565 | High |
| #8 | College Of Saint BenedictPrivate | $56,614 | 31 | $26,944 | Good | $15,778 | Challenging |
| #9 | Depauw UniversityPrivate | $56,425 | 56 | $27,000 | Good | $35,134 | High |
| #10 | University Of IowaPublic | $56,246 | 203 | $22,500 | Good | $27,975 | Challenging |
| #11 | $55,915 | 455 | $23,250 | Good | $37,401 | High | |
| #12 | Lake Forest CollegePrivate | $55,601 | 30 | $26,158 | Good | $35,000 | High |
| #13 | John Carroll UniversityPrivate | $55,079 | 61 | $26,000 | Good | $39,285 | High |
| #14 | Gustavus Adolphus CollegePrivate | $54,826 | 35 | $26,774 | Good | $34,265 | High |
| #15 | $54,539 | 472 | $19,509 | Good | $32,850 | Challenging | |
| #16 | $54,473 | 485 | $19,976 | Good | $25,868 | Challenging | |
| #17 | Wisconsin Lutheran CollegePrivate | $52,791 | 10 | $26,000 | Good | $28,443 | High |
| #18 | Augustana CollegePrivate | $52,732 | 42 | $27,000 | Manageable | $37,219 | High |
| #19 | University Of KansasPublic | $52,304 | 131 | $21,000 | Good | $32,347 | High |
| #20 | Denison UniversityPrivate | $52,234 | 78 | $26,000 | Manageable | $45,521 | High |
| #21 | Valparaiso UniversityPrivate | $52,086 | 25 | $26,942 | Manageable | $28,500 | High |
| #22 | $51,810 | 121 | $21,106 | Good | $13,695 | Manageable | |
| #23 | $51,268 | 54 | $27,000 | Manageable | $23,103 | High | |
| #24 | Creighton UniversityPrivate | $50,856 | 11 | $25,000 | Manageable | $31,504 | High |
| #25 | $50,669 | 10 | $16,961 | Good | $11,210 | Manageable |
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 →
