by our College Data Analytics Team
[Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/journalism/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find where journalism graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send journalism graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked The University Of Tennessee the top school for journalism graduate earnings in Tennessee. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,252.
University Of Memphis came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying journalism schools. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a public institution. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,019.
Students chasing top earnings in journalism will find them at Middle Tennessee State University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $30,659.
The ranking above is published 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 · 3 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.