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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best General Journalism Schools in the The Plains States Region

10 Colleges in the United States
995 General Journalism Degrees Awarded
$44,666 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Journalism programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general journalism programs.

College Factual analyzed 43 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best general journalism schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for General Journalism in the The Plains States Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general journalism education in the The Plains States Region.

Top Schools in General Journalism

1

University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general journalism. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. 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. General Journalism graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $42,450 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500. Get the full general journalism details for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities

2

University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best general journalism schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 484 general journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $49,879. Typical student debt for the program is $21,400. Get the full general journalism details for University Of Missouri Columbia

3
University Of Kansas crest
University Of Kansas
Lawrence, KS

A rank of #3 makes University Of Kansas one of the top schools for general journalism. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 190 general journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Kansas in the most recent 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. Read more about the general journalism program at University Of Kansas

4

Students looking for a strong general journalism program will find one at University Of Nebraska Lincoln, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Lincoln. University Of Nebraska Lincoln graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 general journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general journalism degree from University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn around $47,157 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000. Get the full general journalism details for University Of Nebraska Lincoln

5

A rank of #5 makes Iowa State University one of the top schools for general journalism. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 41 general journalism degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $39,347. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. More information about a degree in general journalism from Iowa State University

6
University Of Iowa crest
University Of Iowa
Iowa City, IA

University Of Iowa placed #6 among the best general journalism schools. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Iowa awarded about 102 general journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $54,887. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $25,907 in student loans. See the full general journalism program report for University Of Iowa

7

University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best general journalism schools. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of St Thomas Minnesota awarded about 10 general journalism degrees in the most recent data year. General Journalism graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $65,183 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete this degree. See the full general journalism program report for University Of St Thomas Minnesota

8

Kansas State University landed the #8 spot for general journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Manhattan. Kansas State University graduates 71% of students within six years. Kansas State University awarded about 64 general journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general journalism degree from Kansas State University earn around $37,484 in the first couple years of their career. Kansas State University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. See the full general journalism program report for Kansas State University

9

University Of Minnesota Duluth landed the #9 spot for general journalism this year. Located in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 general journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent year. General 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. Read more about the general journalism program at University Of Minnesota Duluth

10

Missouri State University Springfield placed #10 among the best general journalism schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 general journalism students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general journalism degree from Missouri State University Springfield earn around $46,503 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,408 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general journalism from Missouri State University Springfield

11
Lincoln University Missouri crest
Lincoln University Missouri
Jefferson City, MO

Lincoln University Missouri placed #11 among the best general journalism schools. Set in the city of Jefferson City, Lincoln University Missouri is a mid-sized public institution. Lincoln University Missouri graduates 20% of students within six years. About 15 general journalism degrees were awarded at Lincoln University Missouri in the most recent year. Students who receive their general journalism degree from Lincoln University Missouri earn around $26,356 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $34,532. More information about a degree in general journalism from Lincoln University Missouri

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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 · 43 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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