2023 Best Value Journalism Schools
213
Ranked Colleges
11,380
Degrees Awarded
$17,200
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Journalism Schools” ranking - to help you make that decision.
General Journalism is the 69th most popular major in the country with 11,380 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
This year’s “Best Value Journalism Schools” ranking analyzed 213 colleges that offered a degree in general journalism. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general journalism programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general journalism program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank General Journalism Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Journalism Schools” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Journalism Schools
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Journalism Schools.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Journalism
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Dakota State University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools list. South Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 9 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State University is $18,578 for journalism students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full South Dakota State University General Journalism Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools list. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is a public institution located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UNL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best General Journalism Schools” list. It costs about $17,013 for Journalism students per year to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UNL General Journalism Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Texas. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools list. Located in Denton, Texas, this large public school handed out 259 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.
UNT also claimed a top spot on our “Best General Journalism Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Texas is $14,122 for Journalism students.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about General Journalism at UNT
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Memphis. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Journalism Schools. University of Memphis is a large public school situated in Memphis, Tennessee. It awarded 58 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,904 for journalism students per year to attend University of Memphis.
Read more about General Journalism at UofM
Out of the 213 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a large school located in Norman, Oklahoma that handed out 220 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our journalism students list, University of Oklahoma has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best General Journalism Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Oklahoma is $21,122 for Journalism students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on General Journalism at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Austin Community College District did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools ranking, coming in at #6. Austin Community College District is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 22 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Austin Community College District is $7,224 for Journalism students.
Read full report on General Journalism at Austin Community College District
Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools list. Athens, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 160 students in 2020-2021.
OHIO Athens also claimed a top spot on our “Best General Journalism Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $23,831 for journalism students per year to attend OHIO Athens.
Read full report on General Journalism at OHIO Athens
With a ranking of #8, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools list. KU is located in Lawrence, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 257 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
KU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best General Journalism Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Kansas is $20,257 for journalism students.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full KU General Journalism Report
Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 28 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $16,285 for Journalism students.
Read full report on General Journalism at SIUC
Central Michigan University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools ranking. Central Michigan is a fairly large school located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan that handed out 19 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan University is $16,007 for Journalism students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Journalism at Central Michigan
Iowa State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools list. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 56 students in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Iowa State also did well on our “Best General Journalism Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State is $16,002 for journalism students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on General Journalism at Iowa State University
Wilmington University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools ranking. Wilmington University is located in New Castle, Delaware and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Wilmington University is $15,186 for journalism students.
Read full report on General Journalism at Wilmington University
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools ranking, coming in at #13. Whitewater, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 55 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Whitewater is $14,417 for journalism students.
Full University of Wisconsin - Whitewater General Journalism Report
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools ranking. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a fairly large public school situated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It awarded 18 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is $14,687 for journalism students.
Read full report on General Journalism at UW Oshkosh
University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 488 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Mizzou also took the #9 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $16,559 for journalism students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Journalism at Mizzou
University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools ranking, coming in at #16. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a medium-sized public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 12 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $18,505 for journalism students per year to attend UMN Duluth.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UMN Duluth General Journalism Report
Harding University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools ranking. Harding University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Searcy, Arkansas. It awarded 8 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Harding is $19,456 for Journalism students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Full Harding University General Journalism Report
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools ranking. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized public school situated in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. It awarded 48 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is $23,006 for journalism students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about General Journalism at Ship
University of Arkansas came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools ranking. UARK is a large public school situated in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It awarded 146 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, UARK also did well on our “Best General Journalism Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend UARK is $16,507 for journalism students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Journalism at University of Arkansas
California State University - Long Beach came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools ranking. California State University - Long Beach is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 109 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $10,054 for journalism students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Read more about General Journalism at California State University - Long Beach
Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools ranking, coming in at #22. WMU is a fairly large public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 8 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Western Michigan University is $20,371 for journalism students.
Read full report on General Journalism at WMU
West Virginia University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools list. Morgantown, West Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 176 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, WVU is also in the top of our “Best General Journalism Schools” ranking. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for WVU is $13,355 for journalism students.
Read more about General Journalism at West Virginia University
St. Bonaventure University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools ranking. St. Bonaventure University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Bonaventure, New York. It awarded 55 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $23,606 for journalism students per year to attend St. Bonaventure.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full St. Bonaventure General Journalism Report
Kent State University at Kent came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools ranking. Kent State University at Kent is a large public school situated in Kent, Ohio. It awarded 74 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Kent State is $19,117 for journalism students.
Read full report on General Journalism at Kent State University at Kent
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