2026 Best Value Journalism Schools in Missouri
[Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/journalism/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for journalism students.
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2026 Best Value Journalism Schools in Missouri
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the journalism degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Journalism Schools
Lincoln University Missouri tops our 2026 list of the best value journalism schools in Missouri. Located in the city of Jefferson City, Lincoln University Missouri is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,796, while out-of-state students pay about $17,692. Journalism graduates carry a median of $34,532 in student loans. Journalism graduates of Lincoln University Missouri earn a median of $26,356 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $34,532 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri State University Springfield earned it the #2 place for journalism. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $24,408. Early-career journalism graduates make about $46,503. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value journalism schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Journalism graduates carry a median of $21,400 in student loans. Journalism graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $49,879 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,400 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
