Best institutions to study Journalism
Any instructional program in journalism not listed above.
40 U.S. institutions graduated 1,031 Journalism students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 09.0499, a specialization of Journalism (CIP 09.04), and leads most directly to the News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists occupation (BLS SOC 27-3023).
About Journalism programs
Any instructional program in journalism not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Journalism program, categorized under Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, focuses on various aspects of journalism not specifically listed in other programs. This program is designed for students interested in pursuing careers in news reporting, analysis, and media communication, providing a broad foundation in journalistic practices and principles.
Students in the Journalism program develop essential skills such as speaking, writing, and critical thinking. Coursework typically covers topics like English language, communications, media, and law, equipping graduates with the knowledge necessary for effective news reporting and analysis.
Credentials awarded
What Journalism graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree559 graduates / yr · 32 institutions54%
- Master's degree443 graduates / yr · 9 institutions43%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate15 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.5%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year14 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.4%
Graduates over time
Journalism completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 939 |
| 2013 | 1,002 |
| 2014 | 1,063 |
| 2015 | 1,289 |
| 2016 | 1,361 |
| 2017 | 1,192 |
| 2018 | 1,321 |
| 2019 | 1,215 |
| 2020 | 1,112 |
| 2021 | 1,097 |
| 2022 | 1,279 |
| 2023 | 1,172 |
| 2024 | 1,071 |
| 2025 | 1,031 |
Top 40 institutions for Journalism, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 206 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 2 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 150 | 68% | — | $42,605 |
| 3 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, ALPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 127 | 73% | — | $35,509 |
| 4 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicMaster's | 117 | 90% | — | $36,636 |
| 5 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 71 | 81% | $13,712 | $46,652 |
| 6 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 63 | 84% | $28,851 | $40,757 |
| 7 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor's | 40 | 87% | — | $31,102 |
| 8 | University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras San Juan, PRPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 35 | 50% | — | — |
| 9 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NEPublicBachelor's | 27 | 67% | — | $32,553 |
| 10 | University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, NEPublicBachelor's | 20 | 58% | — | $36,703 |
| 11 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OKPublicBachelor's | 18 | 68% | — | $31,068 |
| 12 | Drake University Des Moines, IAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 17 | 74% | $28,855 | $41,913 |
| 13 | Maine College of Art & Design Portland, MEPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 15 | 52% | $34,336 | — |
| 14 | Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 11 | 77% | $48,795 | — |
| 15 | University of South Alabama Mobile, ALPublicBachelor's | 10 | 53% | — | — |
| 16 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 86% | — | $36,468 |
| 17 | University of South Florida Tampa, FLPublicMaster's | 9 | 77% | — | — |
| 18 | Central State University Wilberforce, OHPublicBachelor's | 9 | 23% | — | $28,306 |
| 19 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 8 | 96% | $11,666 | — |
| 20 | Queens University of Charlotte Charlotte, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 61% | $24,872 | — |
| 21 | Lipscomb University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 72% | $24,309 | — |
| 22 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OHPublicMaster's | 5 | 64% | — | $30,925 |
| 23 | Marietta College Marietta, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 61% | $18,561 | — |
| 24 | Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 64% | $33,585 | — |
| 25 | Kentucky State University Frankfort, KYPublicBachelor's | 4 | 32% | — | — |
| 26 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 75% | — | $34,829 |
| 27 | Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 46% | $18,564 | — |
| 28 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WAPublicBachelor's | 4 | 65% | — | $34,119 |
| 29 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro, ARPublicBachelor's | 3 | 55% | — | — |
| 30 | Lewis University Romeoville, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 67% | $17,632 | — |
| 31 | Taylor University Upland, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 74% | $20,836 | — |
| 32 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, NDPublicBachelor's | 3 | 64% | — | — |
| 33 | Fairfield University Fairfield, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 84% | $36,845 | — |
| 34 | Concordia College at Moorhead Moorhead, MNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 61% | $23,425 | — |
| 35 | Missouri Baptist University Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 48% | $25,407 | — |
| 36 | Bennett College Greensboro, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 25% | $23,744 | — |
| 37 | Ashland University Ashland, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 61% | $21,785 | — |
| 38 | Spring Hill College Mobile, ALPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 52% | $14,119 | — |
| 39 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 49% | $24,187 | — |
| 40 | Milligan University Milligan, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 63% | $19,143 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Journalism field (CIP 09.04) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 27 states & territories
Where Journalism graduates come from. Each state links to all Journalism programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3023, News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Journalism program often pursue careers as news analysts, reporters, and journalists. While the job outlook for this field shows a decline of 3.9%, there are approximately 4,100 annual openings. The typical education required is a Bachelor's degree, with a median wage of $60,280.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 09.0499
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalistsprimary SOC 27-3023 | $62,200 | -3.9% Decline | ~4,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1122 | $78,580 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~2,700 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Journalism programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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 and technology used
Other Journalism specializations
The 6 other 6-digit CIP codes under Journalism (CIP 09.04).
- JournalismCIP 09.04019,258 graduates / yr356 institutions
- Broadcast JournalismCIP 09.0402712 graduates / yr49 institutions
- PhotojournalismCIP 09.040466 graduates / yr14 institutions
- Science/CIP 09.0407
Health/ Environmental Journalism limited data7 graduates / yr1 institutions - Cultural JournalismCIP 09.0406limited data2 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Business and Economic Journalism09.0405
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, postbaccalaureate certificate, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop in the Journalism program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, writing, critical thinking, and active listening.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Journalism?+
You can work as a news analyst, reporter, or journalist, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for journalism graduates?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 3.9%, with about 4,100 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Journalism?+
Journalism is CIP 09.0499 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Journalism (CIP 09.04). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in journalism not listed above.
How many institutions offer Journalism programs?+
40 U.S. institutions reported Journalism graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 27 states & territories, awarding 1,031 credentials in the year. That is 9.3% of all Journalism graduates.
How much do Journalism graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists occupation, which Journalism most directly leads to, pays a median of $62,200 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Journalism field report median earnings of $35,509 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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