2026 Best Value General Journalism Schools in Pennsylvania

[General Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/journalism/general-journalism/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general journalism schools.
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2026 Best Value General Journalism Schools in Pennsylvania
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general journalism degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Journalism Schools
Temple University earned the #1 spot for value among general journalism schools in Pennsylvania. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. 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. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. 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. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Lehigh University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general journalism schools. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $64,980. General Journalism graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. General Journalism graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $45,256 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 26% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.