Why Choose Journalism Degree Programs?
If you like making a difference and reporting on the things that are happening around you, then journalism may be the right career for you. Journalists ask questions and tell stories, unveil the truth and dive deep into investigative work. The industry is constantly changing, which means that graduates with a journalism degree may have varied career options.
Choosing Journalism Degree Programs
Getting a degree in journalism equips students with a number of skills that they will need in the field. Some of the skills taught include writing and editing, multimedia, television and interviewing. While the most obvious job is to become a reporter, there are other jobs available such as editors, writers, working with public relations or copyrighting.
Top 5 Journalism Degree Programs
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Georgia | Athens, Georgia |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| 3 | Emerson College | Boston, Massachusetts |
| 4 | Scripps College | Claremont, California |
| 5 | Cornell University | Ithaca, New York |
The average pay for someone working as a journalist is $40,780 annually. This varies by region and the specific job the journalist expects to do. Unfortunately, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be an 11% decline in the jobs available in the journalism field between 2019 and 2029.
In this article, we have collected 15 of the top schools for journalism degrees in the country. We have ranked them based on tuition and enrollment.
The Best 15 Schools for Journalism Degree Programs
University of Georgia
At the University of Georgia, the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication offers a journalism major that prepare students to work in multimedia reporting, broadcasting, editing, producing and writing. Many of the students now work in social media, web and publication design, video journalism, photojournalism and other careers. The program is designed as a typical 4-year course with 120 credit hours.
School Overview
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media prepares students to ignite the public conversation locally, nationally and globally — and to understand the role of communication in fostering democracy. The school offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees through courses led by faculty members who are international thought leaders. UNC Hussman has won the national championship in collegiate journalism five of the past six years and nine since 2002 — the most of any other school.
School Overview
Emerson College
At Emerson College, students can get a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. The program has a curriculum centered on four principles, which include respect, illuminate, adapt and discovery. Using these four principles, the curriculum challenges new students with assignments of progressing complexity over time. Students who want this degree must complete 44 credits specifically within the major on top of electives and general education.
School Overview
Scripps College
Students who attend Scripps College may get a degree in media studies, which includes journalism as a focus. The program includes research projects, off-campus internships and more. Students learn to create documentaries, to participate in activists media, and much more.
School Overview
Cornell University
Students at Cornell University are able to get a liberal arts degree in journalism and publishing. Some of the careers available after this course include becoming a news assistant or a freelance psychology writer. Related majors include international relations.
School Overview
University of Wisconsin
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin offers a Journalism Bachelor of Arts (J.B.A.) or Journalism Bachelor of Science (J.B.S.). Students may choose either reporting or strategic communications as their major track. The program prepares students for jobs in reporting and public relations, advertising and marketing communications, political and health communication, and more. In addition to this program, some students add on the Digital Studies Certificate or Certificate in Sports Communication.
School Overview
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania offers a major in communication that consists of 14 courses. Eleven of those courses are completely in communication topics, while three are electives in other departments. Students are expected to take to introductory survey courses and one additional communication course before applying to the major. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
School Overview
The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin offers a Bachelor of Journalism at the Moody College of communication. The program requires 36 hours of major-specific course work as well as general education courses and electives. Altogether, 124 credit hours are required to complete the major.
School Overview
Stanford University
Stanford offers a degree in journalism as well as graduate degrees in the program. Some of the important skills taught in these courses include beat reporting, multimedia storytelling, DSLR videography and data analysis. Regardless of the course, students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better to graduate.
School Overview
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky offers a journalism major that prepares students to enter into roles in the media. The program consists of 120 credit hours and requires a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to graduate.
School Overview
University of Florida
At the University of Florida, the journalism classes teach the basic principles of ethical and legal rights, writing and recording. Students learn new forms of journalism such as video journalism, social media journalism and others.
School Overview
Northwestern University
At Northwestern University, a Bachelor of Science in Journalism is available by completing 45 degree-specific credit hours. Some of the journalism courses that are included in the program include reporting and writing, journalism in practice, media law and ethics and multimedia storytelling.
School Overview
University of Southern California
At the University of Southern California, the Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism is available with small class sizes of around 16 students. Students produce nine shows each week, and there are currently 298 students in the program.
School Overview
New York University
The journalism major at New York University consists of five core courses and three electives. These make up 32 credits. Students are expected to take general education courses as well as elective courses to make up the difference for graduation in approximately four years.
School Overview
Ranking Specifications
The schools ranked in this article we’re ranked by using a point system. Schools with lower tuition rates were given greater Point values, and schools with lower enrollment were as well. Those values were added together to get the best school on the list, which is listed at number one. Every effort has been made to provide accurate information in this article. Please be advised that any of this information is subject to change and is not guaranteed.
For more programs, check out our master’s in journalism page.
Are you working at one of these schools and have questions about the ranking you have received? Would you like to have your school ranked? We are here to help, so please reach out to us.
