Best colleges for Journalism in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
Northeastern University, Boston University and Emerson College are the top bachelor's Journalism programs in Massachusetts by graduate earnings. Northeastern University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,855, College Scorecard. Boston University, Emerson College and University of Massachusetts-Amherst award the most Journalism degrees in Massachusetts: 143, 82 and 64 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 11 Massachusetts colleges offer Journalism and award 391 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 5 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 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,855 | 38 | 91% | $18,925 | $24,313 |
| 2 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,857 | 143 | 89% | $21,956 | $24,813 |
| 3 | Emerson College Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,703 | 82 | 77% | $40,982 | $24,580 |
| 4 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,091 | 64 | 83% | — | $25,447 |
| 5 | Suffolk University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,628 | 18 | 61% | $28,895 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Journalism degrees in Massachusetts
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 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit | 143 | $42,857 |
| 2 | Emerson College Boston Private not-for-profit | 82 | $39,703 |
| 3 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public | 64 | $37,091 |
| 4 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit | 38 | $51,855 |
| 5 | Harvard University Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 26 | Not reported |
| 6 | Suffolk University Boston Private not-for-profit | 18 | $33,628 |
| 7 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 8 | Not reported |
| 8 | Dean College Franklin Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
| 9 | Hampshire College Amherst Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
| 10 | Lasell University Newton Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 1 Massachusetts colleges offering Journalism
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem State University | Salem | Public | 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 Massachusetts
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Journalism programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most Journalism degrees?+
Boston University (143 graduates a year), Emerson College (82 graduates a year) and University of Massachusetts-Amherst (64 graduates a year) award the most Journalism degrees in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 11 Massachusetts colleges offer Journalism.
What is the best college for Journalism in Massachusetts?+
By graduate earnings, Northeastern University leads among bachelor's Journalism programs in Massachusetts, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,855, College Scorecard. Boston University and Emerson College follow. By degrees awarded, Boston University is the largest, with 143 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Journalism program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Northeastern University tops the list at $51,855. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
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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