by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying General Journalism explores Journalism. A Program That Focuses On The Theory And Practice Of Gathering, Processing, And Delivering News And That Prepares Individuals To Be Professional Print Journalists, News Editors, And News Managers. Includes Instruction In News Writing And Editing; Reporting; Photojournalism; Layout And Graphic Design; Journalism Law And Policy; Professional Standards And Ethics; Research Methods; And Journalism History And Criticism. Read on to learn the important information every general journalism major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general journalism programs.
Across the country, general journalism is a widely-pursued major, with 9,378 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Journalism Schools ranking analyzes these 361 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general journalism students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general journalism programs later in this article.
Programs in General Journalism develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general journalism graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a general journalism program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a general journalism major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general 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 | 16 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 492 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 8,071 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 775 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 19 |
People currently working in careers related to general journalism tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 43.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 17.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.5% |
| Some college courses | 8.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general journalism careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in general journalism can lead to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to general journalism.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general journalism.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 919,494 | -1.5% |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | 284,430 | 0.7% |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | 175,767 | 9.1% |
| Writers and Authors | 155,629 | -4.3% |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | 92,155 | -0.2% |
| Editors | 11,763 | 3.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of general 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 general journalism graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general journalism grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Editors | $100,346 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,169 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $74,101 |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | $70,619 |
| Writers and Authors | $63,195 |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | $30,503 |
With 361 different general journalism programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general journalism school rankings to help you.
Students interested in general journalism, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Journalism, Other | 1,098 |
| Broadcast Journalism | 757 |
| Photojournalism | 91 |
| Science/Health/Environmental Journalism | 10 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
