2027 Best Journalism Schools in the The Plains States Region
Journalism degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best journalism schools.
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Best Schools for Journalism in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall journalism education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Journalism
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities tops our 2027 ranking of the best journalism schools. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 65 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $42,450. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
Read more about the journalism program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
University Of Missouri Columbia is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in journalism, ranking #2. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 450 journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $49,879 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,400.
Get the full journalism details for University Of Missouri Columbia
University Of Kansas is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in journalism, ranking #3. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 214 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $54,601 early in their careers. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $22,811 in student loans.
See the full journalism program report for University Of Kansas
A rank of #4 makes Drake University one of the top schools for journalism. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. Drake University awarded about 17 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of Drake University earn a median of $41,913 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,273 to complete this degree.
Read more about the journalism program at Drake University
Iowa State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in journalism, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. About 75% of students finish within six years. Iowa State University awarded about 50 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $39,347 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full journalism details for Iowa State University
University Of Nebraska Lincoln placed #6 among the best journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lincoln. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 87 journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $47,157. University Of Nebraska Lincoln graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in journalism from University Of Nebraska Lincoln
University Of Iowa came in at #7 for journalism this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 91 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from University Of Iowa earn around $54,887 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,907.
Read more about the journalism program at University Of Iowa
Creighton University placed #8 among the best journalism schools. Creighton University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. About 83% of students finish within six years. Creighton University awarded about 13 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of Creighton University earn a median of $43,139 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the journalism program at Creighton University
Kansas State University landed the #9 spot for journalism this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 42 journalism degrees were awarded at Kansas State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $37,484. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
More information about a degree in journalism from Kansas State University
Wichita State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best journalism schools. This large public university is located in the city of Wichita. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Wichita State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from Wichita State University earn around $49,278 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,262.
Get the full journalism details for Wichita State University
University Of Nebraska At Kearney ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best journalism schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Kearney. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Nebraska At Kearney awarded about 20 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $36,703 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,602.
See the full journalism program report for University Of Nebraska At Kearney
University Of Minnesota Duluth earned the #12 position for journalism this year. Located in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public university. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates 65% of students within six years. About 13 journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent year. Journalism graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $27,474 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates carry a median of $26,351 in student loans.
Get the full journalism details for University Of Minnesota Duluth
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #13 spot for journalism this year. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $46,503. Students borrow a median of $24,408 to complete this degree.
See the full journalism program report for Missouri State University Springfield
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 13 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.