by our College Data Analytics Team
[Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/journalism/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 26 schools on the early-career earnings of their journalism graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send journalism graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
University Of Wisconsin Madison tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying journalism schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. Early-career journalism graduates from University Of Wisconsin Madison make a median of around $68,253 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Indiana University Bloomington earned it the #2 place for journalism. Indiana University Bloomington is a public school located in the city of Bloomington. Journalism graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $65,840 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in journalism will find them at Marquette University, which ranked #3. Marquette University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Journalism graduates of Marquette University earn a median of about $65,829 a year early in their careers.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying journalism schools. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a public institution. Early-career journalism graduates from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire make a median of around $48,373 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in journalism will find them at Ohio University Main Campus, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career journalism graduates from Ohio University Main Campus make a median of around $58,976 per year.
Michigan State University earned the #6 position for journalism graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Journalism graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of about $58,101 a year early in their careers.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #7 for journalism graduate earnings this year. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,384.
Depaul University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for journalism. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. Journalism graduates of Depaul University earn a median of about $55,947 a year early in their careers.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #9 for journalism graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,331.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying journalism schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Columbus. After graduating, journalism degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus typically earn about $63,824 annually.
Miami University Oxford ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying journalism schools. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,520.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for journalism. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. Journalism graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of about $46,940 a year early in their careers.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for journalism. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Early-career journalism graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus make a median of around $45,711 per year.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater landed the #14 spot for journalism salaries this year. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a public institution. Early-career journalism graduates from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater make a median of around $50,223 per year.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #15 position for journalism graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,060.
Illinois State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying journalism schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a public institution. Early-career journalism graduates from Illinois State University make a median of around $48,505 per year.
Oakland University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for journalism. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a public institution. Early-career journalism graduates from Oakland University make a median of around $49,213 per year.
Ball State University placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for journalism. Ball State University is a public school located in the city of Muncie. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,711.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #19 for journalism graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a public institution. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,107.
Columbia College Chicago placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for journalism. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Journalism graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of about $49,778 a year early in their careers.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #21 spot for journalism salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. Early-career journalism graduates from Eastern Michigan University make a median of around $48,222 per year.
Northern Illinois University earned the #22 position for journalism graduate earnings this year. Northern Illinois University is a public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. After graduating, journalism degree recipients from Northern Illinois University typically earn about $47,283 annually.
Wayne State University earned the #23 position for journalism graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a public institution. Early-career journalism graduates from Wayne State University make a median of around $51,442 per year.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #24 spot for journalism salaries this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. Journalism graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of about $34,829 a year early in their careers.
Central State University placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for journalism. Central State University is a public school located in the rural area of Wilberforce. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,745.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid journalism ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries journalism graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 26 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.