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2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k

236 Ranked Colleges
13,552 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 236 colleges that offer 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the journalism program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Journalism Schools

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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 $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Journalism (Income $48-$75k)

1

Out of the 236 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #1 spot on the list. Columbia University in the City of New York is a large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 142 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It costs about $8,106 for Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Columbia University in the City of New York.

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%. 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Journalism at Columbia University in the City of New York

2

Out of the 236 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #2 spot on the list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 209 students in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $10,364 for journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Journalism Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k. UMN Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 258 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our journalism students whose families make $48-$75k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Journalism Schools” ranking. It costs about $12,911 for Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, 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 93%.

Read more about Journalism at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

4
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University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k. University of Florida is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 123 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UF is also in the top of our “Best Journalism Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for UF is $8,394 for journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Journalism at UF

5

Out of the 236 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 488 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Mizzou also took the #10 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Columbia is $13,715 for journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Mizzou Journalism Report

6

Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school handed out 123 diplomas to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $12,369 for Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.

Read more about Journalism at IU Bloomington

7

With a ranking of #7, University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 39 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

UW Seattle also claimed a top spot on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus is $8,393 for journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Journalism at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

8
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Georgetown University
Washington, District of Columbia

Georgetown University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

Georgetown not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It costs about $12,505 for journalism students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Georgetown University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, 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 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Journalism at Georgetown University

9

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 53 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UIUC also made our “Best Journalism Schools” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $11,505 for journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 94%.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Journalism Report

10
Baruch crest
Baruch College
New York, New York

With a ranking of #10, Baruch College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. Baruch College is located in New York, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 39 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Baruch is $7,187 for journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Journalism at Baruch College

11

The University of Texas at Austin landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 181 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our journalism students whose families make $48-$75k list, UT Austin has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Journalism Schools” ranking. It costs about $16,134 for Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend The University of Texas at Austin.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full The University of Texas at Austin Journalism Report

12

California State University - Fresno did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. Fresno State is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 85 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Fresno State is $8,030 for journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, 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 87%.

Read more about Journalism at Fresno State

13

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, this large public school awarded 15 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $11,619 for journalism students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UNC Chapel Hill.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Read more about Journalism at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

14

Brigham Young University - Provo ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. BYU is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Provo, Utah. It awarded 64 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, BYU also did well on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for BYU is $12,676 for Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Journalism at BYU

15

University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Tampa, Florida, this large public school awarded 19 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $9,669 for Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend USF Tampa.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 University of South Florida - Main Campus

16
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #16, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 115 diplomas to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for USC is $22,826 for journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Journalism at USC

17
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

With a ranking of #17, University of Georgia did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. Athens, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 181 students in 2020-2021.

UGA also claimed a top spot on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It costs about $15,037 for journalism students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UGA.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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 94%.

Full University of Georgia Journalism Report

18

With a ranking of #18, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. ASU - Tempe is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 236 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

On top of its placing in this ranking, ASU - Tempe also did well on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It costs about $15,561 for journalism students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Arizona State University - Tempe.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Journalism at ASU - Tempe

19

California State University - Long Beach ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school handed out 109 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $11,189 for Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, 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 89%.

Full CSULB Journalism Report

20
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #20. This large school is located in Morgantown, West Virginia, and it awarded 176 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, WVU also did well on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $13,077 for Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend West Virginia University.

Full WVU Journalism Report

21

Iowa State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Iowa State University is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 56 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Iowa State excels when it comes to journalism quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It costs about $14,641 for journalism students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Iowa State.

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 Journalism at Iowa State

22
Brooklyn College crest
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Brooklyn, New York, and it awarded 32 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $7,219 for journalism students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Brooklyn College.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 Brooklyn College

23

With a ranking of #23, University of Maryland - College Park did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. UMCP 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMCP is $17,360 for Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Journalism at University of Maryland - College Park

24

University of Central Florida landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Orlando, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 32 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UCF is $9,426 for Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Journalism at UCF

25
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this large public school awarded 257 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.

KU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Kansas is $18,586 for Journalism students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Journalism at University of Kansas

Rest of the Best 36 in Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Making $48-$75k

Not only did these schools make the top 36 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
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San Diego State University
San Diego, California
28
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Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, Kentucky
29
30
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University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
31
32
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University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
33
34
35
University of Arizona crest
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
36
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University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas

Notes and References

References

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