Best colleges for Journalism in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
Washington State University, Western Washington University and University of Washington-Seattle Campus are the top bachelor's Journalism programs in Washington by graduate earnings. Washington State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,273, College Scorecard. Washington State University, Western Washington University and University of Washington-Seattle Campus award the most Journalism degrees in Washington: 54, 50 and 43 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 6 Washington colleges offer Journalism and award 170 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 4 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 | Washington State University Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,273 | 54 | 60% | — | $22,506 |
| 2 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,119 | 50 | 65% | — | $18,075 |
| 3 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,250 | 43 | 85% | — | $13,654 |
| 4 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,767 | 19 | 86% | $30,006 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Journalism degrees in Washington
Top 6 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 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 54 | $36,273 |
| 2 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public | 50 | $34,119 |
| 3 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public | 43 | $33,250 |
| 4 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit | 19 | $36,767 |
| 5 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public | 2 | Not reported |
| 6 | Spokane Falls Community College Spokane Public | 2 | Not reported |
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 Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Journalism programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Journalism degrees?+
Washington State University (54 graduates a year), Western Washington University (50 graduates a year) and University of Washington-Seattle Campus (43 graduates a year) award the most Journalism degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 6 Washington colleges offer Journalism.
What is the best college for Journalism in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, Washington State University leads among bachelor's Journalism programs in Washington, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,273, College Scorecard. Western Washington University and University of Washington-Seattle Campus follow. By degrees awarded, Washington State University is the largest, with 54 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Journalism program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Washington State University tops the list at $36,273. 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 Washington?+
The average annual wage for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists in Washington is $71,610 (median $54,760), across about 880 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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