2023 Best Value Colleges for Journalism (Income $30-$48k)
236
Ranked Colleges
13,552
Degrees Awarded
$7,800
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 13,552 people earned their degree in journalism, making the major the 69th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, journalism graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $32,953 and had an average of $23,734 in loans still to pay off.
This year’s “Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 236 colleges that offered a degree in journalism. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great journalism programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the journalism program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Journalism Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Journalism (Income $30-$48k)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia University in the City of New York. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 142 students in 2020-2021.
Columbia also took the #3 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Columbia University in the City of New York is $4,699 for journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Journalism at Columbia
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 209 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $4,788 for Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Journalism at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Out of the 236 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the #3 spot on the list. UF is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 123 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
UF excels when it comes to journalism quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $2,857 for Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Florida.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 Journalism at UF
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 258 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Twin Cities is $8,609 for journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Journalism at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. IU Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 123 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools” ranking. It costs about $7,061 for journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University - Bloomington.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, 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 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Journalism at IU Bloomington
With a ranking of #6, Georgetown University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Georgetown is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Washington, District of Columbia. It awarded 19 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Georgetown not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Georgetown University is $9,871 for Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 Journalism at Georgetown University
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 53 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC also took the #18 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $8,036 for journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 Journalism at UIUC
With a ranking of #8, Baruch College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Baruch College is a fairly large school located in New York, New York that handed out 39 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Baruch College is $2,741 for Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 88%.
Read more about Journalism at Baruch College
University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 39 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW Seattle is also in the top of our “Best Journalism Schools” ranking. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend UW Seattle is $6,399 for Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Read more about Journalism at University of Washington - Seattle Campus
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $5,729 for journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Journalism at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
California State University - Fresno came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 85 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $4,655 for Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Fresno.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Fresno State Journalism Report
University of Missouri - Columbia came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this large public school awarded 488 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.
Mizzou also took the #10 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $11,386 for Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 more about Journalism at Mizzou
University of Maryland - College Park did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. University of Maryland - College Park is a public institution located in College Park, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 145 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UMCP also made our “Best Journalism Schools” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend UMCP is $11,567 for journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Maryland - College Park Journalism Report
With a ranking of #14, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 236 students in 2020-2021.
ASU - Tempe excels when it comes to journalism quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for ASU - Tempe is $10,628 for journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full ASU - Tempe Journalism Report
University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus is $5,632 for Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. 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%.
Read full report on Journalism at USF Tampa
Brooklyn College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Brooklyn College is located in Brooklyn, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $3,105 for journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Brooklyn College.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Brooklyn College Journalism Report
University of Georgia ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Athens, Georgia, and it awarded 181 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UGA is also in the top of our “Best Journalism Schools” ranking. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for UGA is $10,688 for journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Journalism at UGA
Boston University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. Boston University is a large school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 132 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Boston U also took the #6 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Boston U is $11,782 for Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.
Read full report on Journalism at Boston U
University of North Texas came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UNT is a large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 299 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, UNT is in the top on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It costs about $6,401 for journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UNT.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read full report on Journalism at UNT
Austin Community College District did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Austin Community College District is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Austin Community College District is $4,907 for Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Austin Community College District Journalism Report
University of Southern California did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 115 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It costs about $17,345 for Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Southern California.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Journalism at USC
California State University - Long Beach came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school handed out 109 diplomas to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $7,573 for journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%.
Full CSULB Journalism Report
The University of Texas at Austin landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 181 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
UT Austin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It costs about $14,977 for Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UT Austin.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.
Read more about Journalism at UT Austin
With a ranking of #24, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. IUPUI is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 42 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,216 for journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend IUPUI.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full IUPUI Journalism Report
Northern Kentucky University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. Highland Heights, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend NKU is $5,947 for journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Journalism at Northern Kentucky University
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