2027 Best Value General Journalism Schools in New Jersey

[General Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/journalism/general-journalism/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for general journalism students.
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2027 Best Value General Journalism Schools in New Jersey
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general journalism, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Journalism Schools
Leading the list is Montclair State University, our #1 best value for general journalism in New Jersey. Set in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,912, with out-of-state students paying around $26,022. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the general journalism program here. Early-career general journalism graduates make about $25,575. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Rutgers University Newark is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general journalism, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Newark, Rutgers University Newark is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,250 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,762. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the general journalism program here. General Journalism graduates of Rutgers University Newark earn a median of $32,523 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Rowan University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general journalism, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,574, while out-of-state students pay about $26,932. General Journalism graduates carry a median of $24,238 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from Rowan University generally make around $34,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Rutgers University New Brunswick is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general journalism, landing the #4 spot this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. Students from in state pay about $17,929 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the general journalism program here. Early-career general journalism graduates make about $32,523. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general journalism will find it at The College Of New Jersey, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,632, with out-of-state students paying around $25,752. Typical student debt for general journalism graduates is $24,429. Early-career general journalism graduates make about $42,217. Set against $24,429 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.