by our College Data Analytics Team
[Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/journalism/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying journalism schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send journalism graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Stony Brook University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid journalism graduates in New York. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a public institution. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,142.
Syracuse University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in journalism, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, journalism degree recipients from Syracuse University typically earn about $72,696 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Suny College At Oswego one of the highest-paying schools for journalism. Set in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a public institution. Journalism graduates of Suny College At Oswego earn a median of about $49,823 a year early in their careers.
Hofstra University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying journalism schools. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,154.
A rank of #5 makes Long Island University C W Post Campus one of the highest-paying schools for journalism. Long Island University C W Post Campus is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookville. Journalism graduates of Long Island University C W Post Campus earn a median of about $46,347 a year early in their careers.
Ithaca College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying journalism schools. Ithaca College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. After graduating, journalism degree recipients from Ithaca College typically earn about $59,535 annually.
Fordham University earned the #7 position for journalism graduate earnings this year. Fordham University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Early-career journalism graduates from Fordham University make a median of around $42,769 per year.
Saint Bonaventure University earned the #8 position for journalism graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Saint Bonaventure, Saint Bonaventure University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,471.
Cuny Lehman College came in at #9 for journalism graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a public institution. Early-career journalism graduates from Cuny Lehman College make a median of around $61,643 per year.
St Johns University New York landed the #10 spot for journalism salaries this year. Located in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Journalism graduates of St Johns University New York earn a median of about $46,630 a year early in their careers.
Suny At Albany placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for journalism. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a public institution. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,664.
State University Of New York At New Paltz came in at #12 for journalism graduate earnings this year. State University Of New York At New Paltz is a public school located in the town of New Paltz. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,654.
Suny College At Plattsburgh placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for journalism. Located in the town of Plattsburgh, Suny College At Plattsburgh is a public institution. After graduating, journalism degree recipients from Suny College At Plattsburgh typically earn about $43,968 annually.
Suny College At Brockport placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for journalism. Suny College At Brockport is a public school located in the town of Brockport. After graduating, journalism degree recipients from Suny College At Brockport typically earn about $42,485 annually.
Cuny Brooklyn College earned the #15 position for journalism graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a public institution. Early-career journalism graduates from Cuny Brooklyn College make a median of around $57,398 per year.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for journalism. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a public institution. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,533.
Canisius College came in at #17 for journalism graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Canisius College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career journalism graduates from Canisius College make a median of around $34,766 per year.
Suny At Fredonia ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying journalism schools. Suny At Fredonia is a public school located in the town of Fredonia. Early-career journalism graduates from Suny At Fredonia make a median of around $39,802 per year.
Suny At Purchase College landed the #19 spot for journalism salaries this year. Suny At Purchase College is a public school located in the suburb of Purchase. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,662.
Cuny York College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying journalism schools. Set in the city of Jamaica, Cuny York College is a public institution. Early-career journalism graduates from Cuny York College make a median of around $44,226 per year.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their journalism graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 20 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.