Best Journalism institutions in the US, ranked by earnings
Compare 417 U.S. colleges offering Journalism by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 50 states.
About Journalism programs
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 considerations that shape the field of journalism today. This program prepares students for a dynamic career in various media formats.
Students in the Journalism program develop essential skills such as speaking, writing, and critical thinking. Coursework covers key areas including communications and media, law and government, and the use of technology in journalism, equipping students with the knowledge needed to navigate the evolving media landscape.
Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Washington University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $52,015 | 46 | 84% | $29,789 | $25,000 |
| 2 | Northeastern University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,855 | 52 | 91% | $18,925 | $24,313 |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,637 | 85 | 86% | — | $19,333 |
| 4 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,893 | 133 | 89% | — | $23,250 |
| 5 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,652 | 54 | 81% | $13,712 | $14,953 |
| 6 | Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,256 | 23 | 88% | $26,912 | $19,500 |
| 7 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,651 | 137 | 92% | $26,873 | $16,250 |
| 8 | American University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,387 | 76 | 75% | $30,225 | $25,000 |
| 9 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,958 | 484 | 75% | — | $21,400 |
| 10 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,191 | 190 | 69% | — | $22,811 |
| 11 | University of Richmond University of Richmond, VA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,157 | 3 | 85% | $24,049 | $15,897 |
| 12 | Creighton University Omaha, NE Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,139 | 4 | 83% | $27,353 | $27,000 |
| 13 | Boston University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,857 | 106 | 89% | $21,956 | $24,813 |
| 14 | Fordham University Bronx, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,769 | 33 | 82% | $38,931 | $26,324 |
| 15 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,605 | 199 | 68% | — | $19,937 |
| 16 | Pepperdine University Malibu, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,536 | 9 | 83% | $41,986 | — |
| 17 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,450 | 52 | 85% | — | $20,500 |
| 18 | The College of New Jersey Ewing, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,217 | 15 | 86% | — | — |
| 19 | Biola University La Mirada, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,997 | 10 | 68% | $26,727 | $27,000 |
| 20 | Drake University Des Moines, IA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,913 | 13 | 74% | $28,855 | — |
| 21 | Chapman University Orange, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,645 | 30 | 82% | $42,965 | $22,500 |
| 22 | Utah State University Logan, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,431 | 70 | 59% | — | $16,710 |
| 23 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,378 | 22 | 84% | $26,589 | $16,000 |
| 24 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,159 | 12 | 64% | — | $27,000 |
| 25 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,945 | 55 | 78% | — | $22,644 |
| 26 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,942 | 167 | 90% | — | $23,250 |
| 27 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,757 | 188 | 84% | $28,851 | $27,000 |
| 28 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,575 | 24 | 62% | — | $25,500 |
| 29 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,502 | 29 | 84% | $33,246 | $19,448 |
| 30 | Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,184 | 53 | 76% | $36,137 | $24,500 |
| 31 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,992 | 105 | 80% | — | $19,500 |
| 32 | Emerson College Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,703 | 79 | 77% | $40,982 | $24,580 |
| 33 | Iowa State University Ames, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,347 | 41 | 75% | — | $23,250 |
| 34 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,336 | 163 | 89% | — | $21,500 |
| 35 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,762 | 91 | 79% | — | $26,000 |
| 36 | Marquette University Milwaukee, WI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,700 | 24 | 83% | $25,376 | $26,000 |
| 37 | Georgia College & State University Milledgeville, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,603 | 65 | 64% | — | $25,000 |
| 38 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,540 | 21 | 54% | — | $22,837 |
| 39 | Auburn University Auburn, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,357 | 44 | 82% | — | $20,500 |
| 40 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,354 | 69 | 71% | — | $21,500 |
| 41 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,302 | 29 | 73% | $33,454 | $23,000 |
| 42 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,246 | 121 | 65% | — | $24,208 |
| 43 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,164 | 135 | 91% | — | $17,054 |
| 44 | University of Florida - Online Gainesville, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,164 | 8 | 85% | — | $17,054 |
| 45 | University of North Texas Denton, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,118 | 242 | 61% | — | $19,877 |
| 46 | University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,875 | 14 | 73% | — | $26,899 |
| 47 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,644 | 15 | 32% | — | $24,500 |
| 48 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,484 | 64 | 71% | — | $21,500 |
| 49 | DePaul University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,388 | 31 | 68% | $28,141 | $24,334 |
| 50 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus Indiana, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,263 | 2 | 56% | — | $26,000 |
Offered across 50 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3023, News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Journalism program can pursue careers in various specializations, including broadcast journalism, photojournalism, and cultural journalism. However, the job outlook indicates a decline of 3.9%, with approximately 4,100 annual openings. The median wage for journalists is $60,280, and a typical requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Journalism programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Write commentaries, columns, or scripts, using computers.
- Coordinate and serve as an anchor on news broadcast programs.
- Examine news items of local, national, and international significance to determine topics to address, or obtain assignments from editorial staff members.
- Analyze and interpret news and information received from various sources to broadcast the information.
- Receive assignments or evaluate leads or tips to develop story ideas.
- Research a story's background information to provide complete and accurate information.
Tools & technology
Concentrations within Journalism
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- JournalismCIP 09.0401
A program that focuses on the theory and practice of gathering, processing, and delivering news and that prepares individuals to be professional print journalists, news editors, and news managers
- Broadcast JournalismCIP 09.0402
A program that focuses on the methods and techniques for reporting, producing, and delivering news and news programs via radio, television, and video/film media; and that prepares individuals to be pr
- PhotojournalismCIP 09.0404
A program that focuses on the use of still and motion photography in journalism and prepares individuals to function as news photographers and photographic editors
- Business and Economic JournalismCIP 09.0405
A program of study that prepares students to gather, analyze, and synthesize verbal and visual information to communicate stories related to business and economics across multiple media platforms
- Cultural JournalismCIP 09.0406
A program of study that prepares individuals to be journalists who critically examine current culture as expressed through the visual and performing arts, design, film, music, radio, television, dance
- Science/Health/Environmental JournalismCIP 09.0407
A program that focuses on reporting on science, health, or environmental policy issues; investigating environmental problems and their causes; and public relations
- Journalism, OtherCIP 09.0499
Any instructional program in journalism not listed above.
Common questions
What are the specializations available in the Journalism program?+
Specializations include Broadcast Journalism, Photojournalism, Business and Economic Journalism, Cultural Journalism, and Science/Health/Environmental Journalism.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, writing, critical thinking, and active listening, among others.
What is the job outlook for journalism graduates?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 3.9%, with about 4,100 annual openings.
What is the typical education needed for a career in journalism?+
A Bachelor's degree is typically required for a career in journalism.
Related programs
Other programs in the same field of study.
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