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. The schools below stand out for the salaries their journalism graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 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.
Our analysis ranked University Of Missouri Columbia the top school for journalism graduate earnings in the The Plains States Region. University Of Missouri Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. Early-career journalism graduates from University Of Missouri Columbia make a median of around $68,004 per year.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying journalism schools. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Early-career journalism graduates from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities make a median of around $67,369 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in journalism will find them at University Of Kansas, which ranked #3. University Of Kansas is a public school located in the city of Lawrence. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,205.
A rank of #4 makes Drake University one of the highest-paying schools for journalism. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, journalism degree recipients from Drake University typically earn about $57,439 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Creighton University earned it the #5 place for journalism. Creighton University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,720.
South Dakota State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying journalism schools. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a public institution. Journalism graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of about $45,114 a year early in their careers.
Iowa State University landed the #7 spot for journalism salaries this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a public institution. After graduating, journalism degree recipients from Iowa State University typically earn about $52,095 annually.
Kansas State University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for journalism. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a public institution. After graduating, journalism degree recipients from Kansas State University typically earn about $54,635 annually.
Missouri State University Springfield placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for journalism. Missouri State University Springfield is a public school located in the city of Springfield. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,814.
University Of Iowa placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for journalism. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a public institution. Early-career journalism graduates from University Of Iowa make a median of around $57,097 per year.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #11 spot for journalism salaries this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. After graduating, journalism degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln typically earn about $51,054 annually.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying journalism schools. Located in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a public institution. Early-career journalism graduates from University Of Nebraska At Kearney make a median of around $41,276 per year.
University Of Minnesota Duluth ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying journalism schools. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a public school located in the city of Duluth. Journalism graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of about $27,474 a year early in their careers.
Lincoln University Missouri ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying journalism schools. Lincoln University Missouri is a public school located in the city of Jefferson City. Students who complete the journalism program here go on to a median salary of roughly $26,356.
This list is compiled 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 · 14 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.