by our College Data Analytics TeamJournalists need to be up to date on current events and have a nose to sniff out a story. Curiosity and good investigative skills are necessary. If this field piques your interest, consider majoring in journalism.
Journalists have the ability to investigate stories, interview sources, and share this information with readers, viewers, and listeners. As a journalism major, you will receive a well-rounded education and learn everything you need to know about transferring information through all types of media outlets. Not only will you take classes in writing and editing, but you will be educated in history, science, professional ethics, libel, and culture. Journalists cover a wide variety of topics and must do so fairly and correctly.
For those who are interested in television, there is the option to concentrate in Broadcast Journalism or you can learn to tell your story through pictures with a degree in Photojournalism.
Studying Journalism explores Journalism. Read on to learn the essential details every journalism major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering journalism programs.
In the U.S., journalism is a widely-pursued major, with 11,334 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Journalism Schools ranking analyzes these 419 schools to determine the best overall colleges for journalism students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of journalism programs later in this article.
Programs in Journalism develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations journalism graduates commonly enter.
Journalists love to write. They are always working on a new story to provide the public with information. This career is best suited for people who are detail oriented and enjoy research. You must cover every detail of breaking stories and ensure all information is shared and accurate. A career in journalism also requires a strong sense of social perceptiveness and a constant awareness of current events.
News can happen at any time. Although journalists work full time, work hours are not always consistent. You may have to work late hours or on weekends to make a deadline or report a breaking story.
The best way to get involved in journalism is through experience. Get involved with your campus newspaper, news studio, or radio station. This will give you the opportunity to write your own articles and sharpen your skills before joining the job force. Internships are also a great way to gain experience. Working at a local news outlet will teach you about real reporting and give you an advantage when trying to find a job after graduation.
Skills built by a journalism program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a journalism major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several journalism degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 30 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 566 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 9,354 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,360 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 19 |
People currently working in careers related to journalism tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 56.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 13.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.5% |
| Some college courses | 4.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in journalism careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in Journalism leads to many possible careers in news reporting. Options include trade magazines, news stations, local or national newspapers, Internet news sources, or working as a freelance writer. Some journalism majors don't go into news reporting and instead pursue careers in other communications areas, such as public relations or even advertising.
Studying journalism opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to journalism.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to journalism.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 919,494 | -1.5% |
| Film and Video Editors | 354,104 | 10.0% |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | 284,430 | 0.7% |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | 175,767 | 9.1% |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | 160,960 | 8.2% |
| Writers and Authors | 155,629 | -4.3% |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | 92,155 | -0.2% |
| Photographers | 81,551 | -3.6% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of journalism graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $36,675 |
| 4 years | $49,199 |
| 5 years | $57,526 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for journalism graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers journalism grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $108,419 |
| Editors | $100,346 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,169 |
| Film and Video Editors | $89,576 |
| Photographers | $75,743 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $74,101 |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | $70,619 |
| Writers and Authors | $63,195 |
With 419 different journalism programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased journalism school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in journalism, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Journalism | 9,378 |
| Journalism, Other | 1,098 |
| Broadcast Journalism | 757 |
| Photojournalism | 91 |
| Science/Health/Environmental Journalism | 10 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Communication, General | 55,210 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 19,636 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 17,813 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | 1,080 |
| Publishing | 340 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
