2027 Best Value General Journalism Schools in Pennsylvania
[General Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/journalism/general-journalism/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general journalism students.
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2027 Best Value General Journalism Schools in Pennsylvania
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 Temple University, our #1 best value for general journalism in Pennsylvania. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the general journalism program here. General Journalism graduates of Temple University earn a median of $30,959 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned it the #2 place for general journalism. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete the general journalism program here. Early-career general journalism graduates make about $36,499. That is a strong return on a $22,750 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lehigh University earned it the #3 place for general journalism. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,980. General Journalism graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $45,256. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lehigh University admits about 26% of applicants.
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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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
