Journalism programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their journalism programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 525 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for journalism students pursuing a degree.
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Choosing a Great Journalism School
The journalism program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best Journalism Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Journalism Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the 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.
Leading the list is Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, our #1 school for journalism. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 251 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
Get the full journalism details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Southern California came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best journalism schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. About 137 journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Students who receive their journalism degree from University Of Southern California earn around $47,138 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,250 to complete this degree.
See the full journalism program report for University Of Southern California
A rank of #3 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the top schools for journalism. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. About 52 journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Journalism graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $42,450 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
Read more about the journalism program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Indiana University Bloomington is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in journalism, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 105 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $39,992. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
See the full journalism program report for Indiana University Bloomington
University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in journalism, ranking #5. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 167 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $40,942 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
More information about a degree in journalism from University Of Wisconsin Madison
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #6 spot for journalism this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 85 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $48,637 in the first couple years of their career. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $19,333 in student loans.
More information about a degree in journalism from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #7 position for journalism this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 33 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $33,250 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,654 to complete this degree.
Read more about the journalism program at University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of Florida earned the #8 position for journalism this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 135 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. 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.
Get the full journalism details for University Of Florida
University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #9 position for journalism this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 96 journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent year. Students who receive their journalism degree from University Of Colorado Boulder earn around $34,022 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750.
Read more about the journalism program at University Of Colorado Boulder
Southern Methodist University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best journalism schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Dallas. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 29 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $40,502 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,448.
See the full journalism program report for Southern Methodist University
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #11 position for journalism this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 484 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $49,879 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,400 to complete this degree.
Read more about the journalism program at University Of Missouri Columbia
Boston University placed #12 among the best journalism schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 106 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $51,138 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,813.
See the full journalism program report for Boston University
Washington And Lee University came in at #13 for journalism this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lexington. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 13 journalism degrees were awarded at Washington And Lee University in the most recent year. 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.
See the full journalism program report for Washington And Lee University
University Of Georgia earned the #14 position for journalism this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 239 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from University Of Georgia earn around $41,352 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $21,120 in student loans.
Read more about the journalism program at University Of Georgia
Georgetown University earned the #15 position for journalism this year. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 16 journalism degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Journalism graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $59,912 early in their careers. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
Read more about the journalism program at Georgetown University
New York University came in at #16 for journalism this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. New York University awarded about 30 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $64,516 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897.
Read more about the journalism program at New York University
Loyola Marymount University came in at #17 for journalism this year. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 28 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $52,935 in the first couple years of their career. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $22,248 in student loans.
More information about a degree in journalism from Loyola Marymount University
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #18 position for journalism this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 133 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $46,893 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
Read more about the journalism program at University Of Maryland College Park
Harvard University placed #19 among the best journalism schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
Read more about the journalism program at Harvard University
George Washington University placed #20 among the best journalism schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 journalism students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Journalism graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $52,015 early in their careers. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Get the full journalism details for George Washington University
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #21 for journalism this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 163 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $39,336. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
More information about a degree in journalism from The University Of Texas At Austin
Chapman University landed the #22 spot for journalism this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Orange. Chapman University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 30 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $41,645 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
See the full journalism program report for Chapman University
Arizona State University came in at #23 for journalism this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 199 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $43,126. Typical student debt for the program is $19,937.
Read more about the journalism program at Arizona State University
University Of Kansas placed #24 among the best journalism schools. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 190 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $54,601. Typical student debt for the program is $22,811.
More information about a degree in journalism from University Of Kansas
San Jose State University placed #25 among the best journalism schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 29 journalism degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full journalism program report for San Jose State University
Rest of the Top 50 Journalism Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong journalism education:
This ranking is produced 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 · 525 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).
