Best colleges for Journalism in Texas
Ranked by graduate earnings
Southern Methodist University, The University of Texas at Austin and University of North Texas are the top bachelor's Journalism programs in Texas by graduate earnings. Southern Methodist University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,502, College Scorecard. The University of Texas at Austin, University of North Texas and Baylor University award the most Journalism degrees in Texas: 182, 179 and 65 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Texas colleges offer Journalism and award 741 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 9 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 | Southern Methodist University Dallas Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,502 | 32 | 84% | $33,246 | $19,448 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,336 | 182 | 89% | — | $21,500 |
| 3 | University of North Texas Denton Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,118 | 179 | 61% | — | $19,877 |
| 4 | University of Houston Houston Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,226 | 63 | 65% | — | $21,500 |
| 5 | Baylor University Waco Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,675 | 65 | 80% | $35,682 | $23,959 |
| 6 | Texas State University San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,255 | 50 | 55% | — | $20,847 |
| 7 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,622 | 35 | 69% | — | $23,250 |
| 8 | Angelo State University San Angelo Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,008 | 7 | 44% | — | — |
| 9 | Texas Southern University Houston Public · Bachelor's degree | $18,301 | 24 | 22% | — | $34,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Journalism degrees in Texas
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 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public | 182 | $39,336 |
| 2 | University of North Texas Denton Public | 179 | $38,118 |
| 3 | Baylor University Waco Private not-for-profit | 65 | $35,675 |
| 4 | University of Houston Houston Public | 63 | $36,226 |
| 5 | Texas State University San Marcos Public | 50 | $33,255 |
| 6 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public | 35 | $29,622 |
| 7 | Southern Methodist University Dallas Private not-for-profit | 32 | $40,502 |
| 8 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth Private not-for-profit | 31 | Not reported |
| 9 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 10 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station Public | 17 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 10 Texas colleges offering Journalism
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Southern University | Houston | Public | 24 |
| Austin Community College District | Austin | Public | 11 |
| El Paso Community College | El Paso | Public | 9 |
| Angelo State University | San Angelo | Public | 7 |
| Texarkana College | Texarkana | Public | 5 |
| Our Lady of the Lake University | San Antonio | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| South Plains College | Levelland | Public | 3 |
| Abilene Christian University | Abilene | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Tyler Junior College | Tyler | Public | 2 |
| Del Mar College | Corpus Christi | Public | 1 |
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 Texas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Journalism programs in Texas.
Which Texas colleges award the most Journalism degrees?+
The University of Texas at Austin (182 graduates a year), University of North Texas (179 graduates a year) and Baylor University (65 graduates a year) award the most Journalism degrees in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Texas colleges offer Journalism.
What is the best college for Journalism in Texas?+
By graduate earnings, Southern Methodist University leads among bachelor's Journalism programs in Texas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,502, College Scorecard. The University of Texas at Austin and University of North Texas follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Texas at Austin is the largest, with 182 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Journalism program in Texas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Southern Methodist University tops the list at $40,502. 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 Texas?+
The average annual wage for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists in Texas is $63,390 (median $48,470), across about 2,670 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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