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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Journalism Schools in the Southwest Region

19 Colleges in the United States
1,438 Journalism Degrees Awarded
$37,914 Avg Early-Career Salary

Journalism is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 56 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best journalism schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Journalism in the Southwest Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the journalism degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Journalism

1

Our analysis ranked Southern Methodist University the best school in the country for a degree in journalism. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Southern Methodist University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 29 journalism degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent 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

2

Students looking for a strong journalism program will find one at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 163 journalism students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $39,336 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500. Get the full journalism details for The University Of Texas At Austin

3

Arizona State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Arizona State University awarded about 199 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from Arizona State University earn around $43,126 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,937 to complete this degree. Read more about the journalism program at Arizona State University

4

A rank of #4 makes Texas Christian University one of the top schools for journalism. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fort Worth. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 journalism degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $60,035 in their early career. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans. Get the full journalism details for Texas Christian University

5

Austin Community College District came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best journalism schools. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Austin Community College District awarded about 22 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $44,895. Typical student debt for the program is $8,007. See the full journalism program report for Austin Community College District

6

Baylor University came in at #6 for journalism this year. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. Baylor University awarded about 63 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from Baylor University earn around $35,675 in the first couple years of their career. Baylor University graduates carry a median of $23,959 in student loans. More information about a degree in journalism from Baylor University

7

University Of Arizona placed #7 among the best journalism schools. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 67 journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Journalism graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $36,521 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,520. Get the full journalism details for University Of Arizona

8

University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #8 spot for journalism this year. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 299 journalism degrees were awarded at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $36,744. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250. See the full journalism program report for University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus

9

University Of North Texas ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best journalism schools. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. There were roughly 242 journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Texas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from University Of North Texas earn around $38,118 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,877 to complete this degree. Get the full journalism details for University Of North Texas

10

Northern Arizona University landed the #10 spot for journalism this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Northern Arizona University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $33,710. Typical student debt for the program is $18,062. Read more about the journalism program at Northern Arizona University

11

Texas Tech University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best journalism schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lubbock. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $29,622. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Get the full journalism details for Texas Tech University

12

University Of Houston landed the #12 spot for journalism this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. University Of Houston awarded about 53 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $36,226 in their early career. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. See the full journalism program report for University Of Houston

13

Texas State University San Marcos ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best journalism schools. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 39 journalism degrees were awarded at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Journalism graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $33,255 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,847 to complete this degree. See the full journalism program report for Texas State University San Marcos

14

University Of New Mexico Main Campus placed #14 among the best journalism schools. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. University Of New Mexico Main Campus graduates 54% of students within six years. University Of New Mexico Main Campus awarded about 33 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn around $32,423 in the first couple years of their career. University Of New Mexico Main Campus graduates carry a median of $13,606 in student loans. More information about a degree in journalism from University Of New Mexico Main Campus

15

Abilene Christian University landed the #15 spot for journalism this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Abilene. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. About 12 journalism degrees were awarded at Abilene Christian University in the most recent year. Journalism graduates of Abilene Christian University earn a median of $56,463 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete this degree. Read more about the journalism program at Abilene Christian University

16

Oklahoma State University Main Campus earned the #16 position for journalism this year. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Oklahoma State University Main Campus graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Oklahoma State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $31,068. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete this degree. See the full journalism program report for Oklahoma State University Main Campus

17

New Mexico State University Main Campus earned the #17 position for journalism this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Las Cruces. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 journalism degrees were awarded at New Mexico State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their journalism degree from New Mexico State University Main Campus earn around $32,825 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete this degree. Get the full journalism details for New Mexico State University Main Campus

18

Oklahoma City Community College landed the #18 spot for journalism this year. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College is a large public institution. Oklahoma City Community College awarded about 12 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Oklahoma City Community College generally make around $39,848. Oklahoma City Community College graduates carry a median of $8,250 in student loans. Get the full journalism details for Oklahoma City Community College

19

Northeastern State University landed the #19 spot for journalism this year. Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Tahlequah. Northeastern State University graduates 35% of students within six years. About 14 journalism degrees were awarded at Northeastern State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the journalism program make about $49,353 in their early career. Northeastern State University graduates carry a median of $23,465 in student loans. Read more about the journalism program at Northeastern State University

20

University Of Central Oklahoma placed #20 among the best journalism schools. University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public school located in the suburb of Edmond. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Central Oklahoma awarded about 46 journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Central Oklahoma generally make around $28,139. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. Read more about the journalism program at University Of Central Oklahoma

21

Texas Southern University earned the #21 position for journalism this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Houston. Texas Southern University graduates 22% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 journalism students who graduated with this degree at Texas Southern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their journalism degree from Texas Southern University earn around $18,301 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $34,750. More information about a degree in journalism from Texas Southern University

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 56 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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