Journalism degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 211 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for journalism students pursuing a degree.
The school you choose for journalism can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Journalism Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Journalism Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the journalism degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of Southern California, our #1 school for journalism. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 156 journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $47,138 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,250.
See the full journalism program report for University Of Southern California
A rank of #2 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the top schools for journalism. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 65 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $42,450 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in journalism from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Students looking for a strong journalism program will find one at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 82 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $48,637. Students borrow a median of $19,333 to complete this degree.
Read more about the journalism program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
A rank of #4 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the top schools for journalism. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 132 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $39,992 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
See the full journalism program report for Indiana University Bloomington
A rank of #5 makes University Of Richmond one of the top schools for journalism. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of University of Richmond. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Richmond in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of University Of Richmond earn a median of $43,157 early in their careers. University Of Richmond graduates carry a median of $15,897 in student loans.
See the full journalism program report for University Of Richmond
Southern Methodist University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best journalism schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Dallas. Southern Methodist University graduates 84% of students within six years. Southern Methodist University awarded about 32 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $40,502 in their early career. Southern Methodist University graduates carry a median of $19,448 in student loans.
Get the full journalism details for Southern Methodist University
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #7 position for journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 214 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $40,942 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in journalism from University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #8 among the best journalism schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 43 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $33,250 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,654.
More information about a degree in journalism from University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best journalism schools. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $64,891 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete this degree.
Read more about the journalism program at Texas A And M University College Station
Georgetown University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best journalism schools. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $59,912. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
Read more about the journalism program at Georgetown University
Boston University earned the #11 position for journalism this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 143 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of Boston University earn a median of $51,138 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,813.
Read more about the journalism program at Boston University
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #12 spot for journalism this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 450 journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Students who receive their journalism degree from University Of Missouri Columbia earn around $49,879 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $21,400 in student loans.
Get the full journalism details for University Of Missouri Columbia
University Of Florida earned the #13 position for journalism this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Florida awarded about 139 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $38,164. Students borrow a median of $17,054 to complete this degree.
Get the full journalism details for University Of Florida
New York University landed the #14 spot for journalism this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. New York University awarded about 42 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from New York University earn around $64,516 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in journalism from New York University
Harvard University landed the #15 spot for journalism this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
Read more about the journalism program at Harvard University
Loyola Marymount University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best journalism schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 79% of students finish within six years. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 34 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $52,935. Typical student debt for the program is $22,248.
More information about a degree in journalism from Loyola Marymount University
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #17 for journalism this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 182 journalism degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their journalism degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $39,336 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in journalism from The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 44 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $36,303 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,300.
More information about a degree in journalism from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Austin Community College District placed #19 among the best journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. There were roughly 11 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Austin Community College District in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,007.
More information about a degree in journalism from Austin Community College District
University Of Georgia ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 263 journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $41,352. Students borrow a median of $21,120 to complete this degree.
Read more about the journalism program at University Of Georgia
San Jose State University landed the #21 spot for journalism this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 26 journalism degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in journalism from San Jose State University
University Of Kansas landed the #22 spot for journalism this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. University Of Kansas awarded about 214 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $54,601 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,811.
Get the full journalism details for University Of Kansas
Chapman University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best journalism schools. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Chapman University graduates 82% of students within six years. About 36 journalism degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Students who receive their journalism degree from Chapman University earn around $41,645 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
See the full journalism program report for Chapman University
George Washington University came in at #24 for journalism this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 journalism students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from George Washington University earn around $52,015 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the journalism program at George Washington University
Arizona State University earned the #25 position for journalism this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 150 journalism degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their journalism degree from Arizona State University earn around $43,126 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,937.
More information about a degree in journalism from Arizona State University
Rest of the Top 50 Journalism Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s journalism ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 211 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
