Best Schools for Journalism in the United States
Below are the best journalism schools at the master’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Journalism
University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in journalism. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 13 journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $40,942 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
Read more about the journalism program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
Students looking for a strong journalism program will find one at University Of Southern California, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 52 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $49,625. Typical student debt for the program is $16,250.
More information about a degree in journalism from University Of Southern California
Students looking for a strong journalism program will find one at Georgetown University, which ranked #3. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 16 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $59,912. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
See the full journalism program report for Georgetown University
New York University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best journalism schools. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. New York University awarded about 30 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $64,516 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897.
See the full journalism program report for New York University
A rank of #5 makes Harvard University one of the top schools for journalism. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
See the full journalism program report for Harvard University
University Of Georgia landed the #6 spot for journalism this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 239 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $46,067 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,120.
More information about a degree in journalism from University Of Georgia
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #7 among the best journalism schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 230 journalism degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $54,170. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
Read more about the journalism program at Columbia University In The City Of New York
Boston University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best journalism schools. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Boston University awarded about 18 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $59,418. Students borrow a median of $24,813 to complete this degree.
See the full journalism program report for Boston University
University Of Kansas came in at #9 for journalism this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. University Of Kansas awarded about 20 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from University Of Kansas earn around $66,011 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,811 to complete this degree.
Read more about the journalism program at University Of Kansas
Quinnipiac University placed #10 among the best journalism schools. Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hamden. Quinnipiac University graduates 76% of students within six years. Quinnipiac University awarded about 19 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of Quinnipiac University earn a median of $40,184 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete this degree.
See the full journalism program report for Quinnipiac University
Baylor University earned the #11 position for journalism this year. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. Baylor University graduates 80% of students within six years. Baylor University awarded about 10 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $35,675 in their early career. Baylor University graduates carry a median of $23,959 in student loans.
Read more about the journalism program at Baylor University
The University Of Alabama placed #12 among the best journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tuscaloosa. About 73% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 journalism students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Alabama in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from The University Of Alabama earn around $35,509 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Alabama graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full journalism program report for The University Of Alabama
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #13 spot for journalism this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 69 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn around $61,760 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
See the full journalism program report for University Of Nebraska Lincoln
Arizona State University came in at #14 for journalism this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Arizona State University awarded about 43 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $43,647 in their early career. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $19,937 in student loans.
More information about a degree in journalism from Arizona State University
University Of Iowa earned the #15 position for journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Iowa City. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Iowa awarded about 18 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from University Of Iowa earn around $75,030 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,907.
More information about a degree in journalism from University Of Iowa
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #16 position for journalism this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 38 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $55,800. Typical student debt for the program is $21,400.
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The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #17 for journalism this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 12 journalism degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $39,336. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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American University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best journalism schools. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 17 journalism degrees were awarded at American University in the most recent year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $49,973 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
See the full journalism program report for American University
Michigan State University landed the #19 spot for journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from Michigan State University earn around $36,912 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,985 to complete this degree.
Read more about the journalism program at Michigan State University
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus placed #20 among the best journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Norman. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 129 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $36,744 early in their careers. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
Read more about the journalism program at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
University Of South Carolina Columbia landed the #21 spot for journalism this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 72 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from University Of South Carolina Columbia earn around $38,762 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the journalism program at University Of South Carolina Columbia
Emerson College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best journalism schools. Set in the city of Boston, Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Emerson College graduates 77% of students within six years. Emerson College awarded about 12 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Emerson College generally make around $43,011. Typical student debt for the program is $24,580.
More information about a degree in journalism from Emerson College
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #23 for journalism this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $46,893 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
More information about a degree in journalism from University Of Maryland College Park
University Of North Texas came in at #24 for journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Denton. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 53 journalism degrees were awarded at University Of North Texas in the most recent year. Journalism graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $38,118 early in their careers. University Of North Texas graduates carry a median of $19,877 in student loans.
See the full journalism program report for University Of North Texas
Kent State University At Kent came in at #25 for journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kent. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from Kent State University At Kent earn around $56,011 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Get the full journalism details for Kent State University At Kent
Rest of the Top 33 Journalism Schools
These schools also placed among the best for journalism this year:
Other Journalism Degree Levels
Explore the best journalism schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 525 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.
