Best colleges for Journalism in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Loyola University Chicago, DePaul University and Illinois State University are the top bachelor's Journalism programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Loyola University Chicago leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,302, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, DePaul University and Illinois State University award the most Journalism degrees in Illinois: 44, 31 and 31 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 Illinois colleges offer Journalism and award 231 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Journalism program focuses on the principles and practices of reporting, writing, and broadcasting news. It is designed for students who are passionate about storytelling and wish to explore the diverse cultural values and ethical…
Top 7 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,302 | 26 | 73% | $33,454 | $23,000 |
| 2 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,388 | 31 | 68% | $28,141 | $24,334 |
| 3 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,643 | 31 | 65% | — | $23,500 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,303 | 44 | 85% | — | $22,300 |
| 5 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,369 | 24 | 52% | $28,087 | $26,000 |
| 6 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $40,575 | 19 | 62% | — | $25,500 |
| 7 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,753 | 10 | 49% | — | $25,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Journalism degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 44 | $36,303 |
| 2 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 31 | $37,388 |
| 3 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 31 | $36,643 |
| 4 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 26 | $38,302 |
| 5 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 24 | $31,369 |
| 6 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | 19 | $40,575 |
| 7 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 8 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 10 | $31,753 |
| 9 | Bradley University Peoria Private not-for-profit | 8 | Not reported |
| 10 | Augustana College Rock Island Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 6 Illinois colleges offering Journalism
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield | Public | 6 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Knox College | Galesburg | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists (SOC 27-3023).
Top skills
What News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Journalism programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Journalism degrees?+
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (44 graduates a year), DePaul University (31 graduates a year) and Illinois State University (31 graduates a year) award the most Journalism degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 Illinois colleges offer Journalism.
What is the best college for Journalism in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Loyola University Chicago leads among bachelor's Journalism programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,302, College Scorecard. DePaul University and Illinois State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the largest, with 44 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Journalism program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Loyola University Chicago tops the list at $38,302. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists in Illinois is $87,560 (median $60,590), across about 1,060 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Journalism program?+
The Journalism program focuses on the principles and practices of reporting, writing, and broadcasting news. It is designed for students who are passionate about storytelling and wish to explore the diverse cultural values and ethical…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, writing, reading comprehension, active listening, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists?+
The national job outlook is about -3.9% growth with around 4,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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