2026 Best Value Journalism Schools in Florida

[Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/journalism/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for journalism students.
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2026 Best Value Journalism Schools in Florida
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in journalism, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Journalism Schools
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot for value among journalism schools in Florida. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $17,054. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $38,164. Set against $17,054 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of South Florida Main Campus one of the best values for journalism. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Journalism graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans. Early-career journalism graduates make about $51,410. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Students looking for strong value in journalism will find it at University Of Central Florida, which ranked #3. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $22,644. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $40,945. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University earned it the #4 place for journalism. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,785, compared with $17,725 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $27,393. Journalism graduates of Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University earn a median of $36,356 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Flagler College St Augustine came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value journalism schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Augustine, Flagler College St Augustine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,900. Journalism graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Journalism graduates of Flagler College St Augustine earn a median of $27,863 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Full Sail University landed the #6 spot for journalism value this year. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $26,906. Journalism graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. Journalism graduates of Full Sail University earn a median of $41,887 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,000 median debt.
The University Of Tampa earned the #7 position for value in journalism this year. Set in the city of Tampa, The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,408. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $25,191. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from The University Of Tampa generally make around $45,401. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami landed the #8 spot for journalism value this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Journalism graduates carry a median of $16,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $41,378. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 19%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.