2026 Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western Region
Journalism programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 108 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best journalism schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Journalism in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall journalism education in the Far Western Region.
Top Schools in Journalism
Leading the list is University Of Southern California, our #1 school for journalism. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 137 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from University Of Southern California earn around $47,138 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $16,250 in student loans.
Get the full journalism details for University Of Southern California
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in journalism, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 85 journalism students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $48,637 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,333 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in journalism from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
A rank of #3 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the top schools for journalism. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 33 journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $33,250 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,654 to complete this degree.
Get the full journalism details for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Loyola Marymount University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in journalism, landing the #4 spot this year. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 journalism degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $52,935. Typical student debt for the program is $22,248.
Read more about the journalism program at Loyola Marymount University
Chapman University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in journalism, ranking #5. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 30 journalism degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $41,645. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
More information about a degree in journalism from Chapman University
San Jose State University came in at #6 for journalism this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 journalism students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in journalism from San Jose State University
San Francisco State University landed the #7 spot for journalism this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 36 journalism degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Journalism graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $31,788 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,875 to complete this degree.
See the full journalism program report for San Francisco State University
Washington State University landed the #8 spot for journalism this year. Located in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Washington State University awarded about 58 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of Washington State University earn a median of $36,273 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,506.
See the full journalism program report for Washington State University
Western Washington University earned the #9 position for journalism this year. Western Washington University is a large public school located in the city of Bellingham. Western Washington University graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Western Washington University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $34,119 in their early career. Western Washington University graduates carry a median of $18,075 in student loans.
Read more about the journalism program at Western Washington University
California State University Sacramento ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best journalism schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. About 56% of students finish within six years. California State University Sacramento awarded about 38 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $30,644 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
More information about a degree in journalism from California State University Sacramento
California State University Long Beach landed the #11 spot for journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 73 journalism students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $28,844 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
Read more about the journalism program at California State University Long Beach
Orange Coast College came in at #12 for journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Costa Mesa. Orange Coast College awarded about 10 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $46,306 in their early career. Orange Coast College graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans.
Read more about the journalism program at Orange Coast College
California State University Northridge earned the #13 position for journalism this year. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 92 journalism degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $30,564 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,480.
Read more about the journalism program at California State University Northridge
California State University Chico came in at #14 for journalism this year. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. California State University Chico awarded about 28 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from California State University Chico earn around $35,668 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
See the full journalism program report for California State University Chico
California State University Fresno landed the #15 spot for journalism this year. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. California State University Fresno awarded about 79 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $49,502 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,598.
Get the full journalism details for California State University Fresno
San Diego State University landed the #16 spot for journalism this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 119 journalism students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $30,269 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,998.
More information about a degree in journalism from San Diego State University
College Of The Canyons earned the #17 position for journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. College Of The Canyons awarded about 12 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. College Of The Canyons graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans.
See the full journalism program report for College Of The Canyons
University Of Nevada Reno earned the #18 position for journalism this year. Set in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public institution. University Of Nevada Reno graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 77 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nevada Reno in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Nevada Reno generally make around $36,109. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
More information about a degree in journalism from University Of Nevada Reno
University Of Oregon earned the #19 position for journalism this year. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public institution. University Of Oregon graduates 72% of students within six years. University Of Oregon awarded about 128 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Oregon generally make around $36,841. University Of Oregon graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans.
Read more about the journalism program at University Of Oregon
University Of California Irvine placed #20 among the best journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 33 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $31,102 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,900 to complete this degree.
See the full journalism program report for University Of California Irvine
Gonzaga University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best journalism schools. Located in the city of Spokane, Gonzaga University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 16 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Gonzaga University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from Gonzaga University earn around $36,767 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in journalism from Gonzaga University
Cerritos College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Norwalk. About 12 journalism degrees were awarded at Cerritos College in the most recent year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $29,495 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,306.
More information about a degree in journalism from Cerritos College
University Of La Verne earned the #23 position for journalism this year. University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Verne. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 11 journalism degrees were awarded at University Of La Verne in the most recent year. Journalism graduates of University Of La Verne earn a median of $35,364 early in their careers. University Of La Verne graduates carry a median of $26,314 in student loans.
More information about a degree in journalism from University Of La Verne
California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #24 for journalism this year. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. About 43% of students finish within six years. California State University Dominguez Hills awarded about 23 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from California State University Dominguez Hills generally make around $52,683. Students borrow a median of $15,886 to complete this degree.
Read more about the journalism program at California State University Dominguez Hills
Santa Monica College came in at #25 for journalism this year. Set in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public institution. About 81% of students finish within six years. Santa Monica College awarded about 21 journalism degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full journalism program report for Santa Monica College
Rest of the Top 38 Journalism Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s journalism ranking:
Narrow Journalism Schools by State
View All Journalism Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 108 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
