Best institutions to study Journalism in Illinois
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 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,575 | 19 | 62% | — | $25,500 |
| 2 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,302 | 26 | 73% | $33,454 | $23,000 |
| 3 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,388 | 31 | 68% | $28,141 | $24,334 |
| 4 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,643 | 31 | 65% | — | $23,500 |
| 5 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,303 | 44 | 85% | — | $22,300 |
| 6 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,753 | 10 | 49% | — | $25,750 |
| 7 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,369 | 24 | 52% | $28,087 | $26,000 |
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 Journalism program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Southern Illinois University - Carbondale tops the list at $40,575. Compare it against completions, 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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