2026 Best Value Journalism Schools in New York
[Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/journalism/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 36 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value journalism schools.
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2026 Best Value Journalism Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in journalism, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Journalism Schools
Our analysis ranked Cuny Brooklyn College the best value for a degree in journalism in New York. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,452, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Students borrow a median of $10,290 to complete the journalism program here. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $23,120. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in journalism will find it at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College, which ranked #2. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,464, with out-of-state students paying around $15,414. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $13,717. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $22,839. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Kingsborough Community College earned it the #3 place for journalism. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,252, while out-of-state students pay about $8,132. Students borrow a median of $7,858 to complete the journalism program here. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Cuny Kingsborough Community College generally make around $35,562. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in journalism will find it at Cuny York College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Jamaica, Cuny York College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,358, compared with $15,308 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $12,573. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Cuny York College generally make around $24,535. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny York College admits about 64% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Onondaga Community College earned it the #5 place for journalism. Onondaga Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Syracuse. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,102, while out-of-state students pay about $11,392. Journalism graduates carry a median of $10,125 in student loans. Journalism graduates of Onondaga Community College earn a median of $35,781 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,125 median debt.
Suny College At Brockport earned the #6 position for value in journalism this year. Located in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,752, compared with $15,822 for out-of-state students. Journalism graduates carry a median of $24,627 in student loans. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Suny College At Brockport generally make around $33,085. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Plattsburgh came in at #7 for value in journalism this year. Set in the town of Plattsburgh, Suny College At Plattsburgh is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,035, while out-of-state students pay about $18,945. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete the journalism program here. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Suny College At Plattsburgh generally make around $32,456. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Stony Brook University came in at #8 for value in journalism this year. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $27,000. Journalism graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
Canisius College earned the #9 position for value in journalism this year. Canisius College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Buffalo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,200. Journalism graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Canisius College generally make around $34,766. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
State University Of New York At New Paltz placed #10 among the best values for journalism. State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of New Paltz. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,572, compared with $18,822 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the journalism program here. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from State University Of New York At New Paltz generally make around $29,628. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #11 spot for journalism value this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Journalism graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Early-career journalism graduates make about $54,170. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Albany earned the #12 position for value in journalism this year. Suny At Albany is a very large public school located in the city of Albany. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,601, while out-of-state students pay about $30,991. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the journalism program here. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $28,553. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny At Albany admits about 69% of applicants.
Suny At Purchase College landed the #13 spot for journalism value this year. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,016, while out-of-state students pay about $19,266. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $23,947. Journalism graduates of Suny At Purchase College earn a median of $22,011 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,947 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
St Johns University New York ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value journalism schools. Set in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,529. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the journalism program here. Early-career journalism graduates make about $36,020. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. St Johns University New York admits about 83% of applicants.
Ithaca College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value journalism schools. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $52,616 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the journalism program here. Early-career journalism graduates make about $34,453. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
New York University earned the #16 position for value in journalism this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $21,897. Journalism graduates of New York University earn a median of $64,516 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Hofstra University earned the #17 position for value in journalism this year. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,660. Journalism graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Journalism graduates of Hofstra University earn a median of $37,241 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Hofstra University admits about 68% of applicants.
Syracuse University landed the #18 spot for journalism value this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,528. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $41,307. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
Fordham University earned the #19 position for value in journalism this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,470. Journalism graduates carry a median of $26,324 in student loans. Journalism graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $42,769 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 ranked schools only.
- 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.
