General Journalism is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 460 schools to find the best for general journalism students.
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Choosing a Great General Journalism School
Where you study general journalism matters for your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for General Journalism rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best General Journalism Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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Best Schools for General Journalism in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general journalism degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Pennsylvania State University Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in general journalism. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 183 general journalism degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full general journalism program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Southern California is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general journalism, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 137 general journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $47,138. Typical student debt for the program is $16,250.
See the full general journalism program report for University Of Southern California
A rank of #3 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the top schools for general journalism. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 52 general journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $42,450. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full general journalism details for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Indiana University Bloomington is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general journalism, landing the #4 spot this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 105 general journalism degrees in the most recent data year. General Journalism graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $39,992 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
Read more about the general journalism program at Indiana University Bloomington
University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general journalism, ranking #5. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 167 general journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Students who receive their general journalism degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $40,942 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full general journalism details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #6 for general journalism this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 85 general journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general 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.
See the full general journalism program report for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best general journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 33 general journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $33,250. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $13,654 in student loans.
Read more about the general journalism program at University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of Florida landed the #8 spot for general journalism this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 135 general journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. General Journalism graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $38,164 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,054 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general journalism from University Of Florida
University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best general journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Boulder. About 74% of students finish within six years. University Of Colorado Boulder awarded about 96 general journalism degrees in the most recent data year. General Journalism graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $34,022 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750.
Read more about the general journalism program at University Of Colorado Boulder
Southern Methodist University came in at #10 for general journalism this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 general journalism students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $40,502. Typical student debt for the program is $19,448.
Get the full general journalism details for Southern Methodist University
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #11 among the best general journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 484 general journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Students who receive their general journalism degree from University Of Missouri Columbia earn around $49,879 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,400 to complete this degree.
See the full general journalism program report for University Of Missouri Columbia
Boston University landed the #12 spot for general journalism this year. 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. There were roughly 105 general journalism students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. General Journalism graduates of Boston University earn a median of $51,138 early in their careers. Boston University graduates carry a median of $24,813 in student loans.
Read more about the general journalism program at Boston University
Washington And Lee University placed #13 among the best general journalism schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lexington. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 general journalism degrees were awarded at Washington And Lee University in the most recent year. General Journalism graduates of Washington And Lee University earn a median of $76,810 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,074 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general journalism program at Washington And Lee University
University Of Georgia earned the #14 position for general journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 165 general journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general journalism program make about $41,352 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,120.
See the full general journalism program report for University Of Georgia
Georgetown University came in at #15 for general journalism this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 16 general journalism degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general journalism degree from Georgetown University earn around $59,912 in the first couple years of their career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
Read more about the general journalism program at Georgetown University
New York University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best general journalism schools. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 general journalism degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general journalism program make about $64,516 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
Read more about the general journalism program at New York University
Loyola Marymount University placed #17 among the best general journalism schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount University graduates 79% of students within six years. About 28 general journalism degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $52,935. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $22,248 in student loans.
Read more about the general journalism program at Loyola Marymount University
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #18 position for general journalism this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 133 general journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general journalism degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $46,893 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general journalism from University Of Maryland College Park
Harvard University placed #19 among the best general journalism schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. About 28 general journalism degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. General Journalism graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
Get the full general journalism details for Harvard University
George Washington University landed the #20 spot for general journalism this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. George Washington University awarded about 38 general journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $52,015. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full general journalism details for George Washington University
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #21 spot for general journalism this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 163 general journalism degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their general journalism degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $39,336 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
More information about a degree in general journalism from The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Kansas placed #22 among the best general journalism schools. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 190 general journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $54,601. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $22,811 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general journalism from University Of Kansas
San Jose State University placed #23 among the best general journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 general journalism degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
See the full general journalism program report for San Jose State University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best general journalism schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 42 general journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Students who receive their general journalism degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $36,303 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,300 to complete this degree.
See the full general journalism program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #25 for general journalism this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 52 general journalism degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. General Journalism graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $31,955 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,346.
See the full general journalism program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 General Journalism Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general journalism education:
The ranking above is published 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 · 460 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).
