Journalism: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Journalism is a dynamic field dedicated to the responsible collection, analysis, and dissemination of news and information. It equips students with the critical skills and ethical foundation needed to thrive in modern media environments across print, digital, and multimedia platforms.
- News Writing and Editing: Develops precision and clarity in crafting compelling, accurate stories while mastering the revision and refinement processes essential to professional publishing.
- Reporting: Focuses on investigative techniques, source evaluation, and on-the-ground storytelling to deliver timely, well-researched news content.
- Photojournalism: Combines visual storytelling with journalistic integrity, teaching how images convey narrative, context, and emotional impact in news coverage.
- Layout and Graphic Design: Explores visual composition, typography, and digital design principles to create engaging, reader-friendly news presentations across print and digital formats.
- Journalism Law and Policy: Examines legal frameworks governing media, including libel, privacy rights, freedom of information, and the role of regulation in shaping news environments.
- Professional Standards and Ethics: Builds a strong moral compass through study of journalistic integrity, bias mitigation, accountability, and the responsibilities of media in democratic societies.
- Research Methods: Cultivates rigorous inquiry skills, enabling students to verify facts, analyze data, and support stories with credible evidence.
- Journalism History and Criticism: Provides context by exploring the evolution of news media, major movements, influential figures, and critical analysis of journalistic practices over time.
Journalism Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Journalism Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Journalism degrees, including Communications Teachers, Postsecondary, Editors and Writers and Authors. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 219,250 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1122 | $77,800 | $47,100 - $160,210 | 29,260 | N/A |
| Editors 27-3041 | $75,260 | $36,200 - $140,840 | 95,480 | $36.18 |
| Writers and Authors 27-3043 | $72,270 | $41,080 - $133,680 | 47,800 | $34.75 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists 27-3023 | $60,280 | $34,590 - $162,430 | 41,550 | $28.98 |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers 43-9081 | $49,210 | $33,530 - $78,040 | 5,160 | $23.66 |
Journalism Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $46,750 in Arkansas to $90,894 in California—a 94% difference. The highest-paying states include California, District of Columbia, and New York. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 219,250 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Journalism by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Journalism programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Journalism is found at University of Missouri (Mizzou), Columbia (484 graduates), University of Oklahoma (OU), Norman Campus (237 graduates), University of North Texas (UNT) (205 graduates), University of Wisconsin-Madison (203 graduates), and University of Kansas (KU) (190 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 7,339 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
484 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
237 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
205 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
203 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
190 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
183 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
|
165 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
163 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
156 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
140 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
137 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
|
135 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
133 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
132 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
|
125 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
121 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
109 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
107 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
|
105 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
104 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
|
103 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
102 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
98 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
98 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Bachelor's
|
95 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
92 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Bachelor's
|
87 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
|
86 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
79 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnostate.edu |
| Emerson College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
79 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | emerson.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
77 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Bachelor's
|
77 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
|
75 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
73 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Baylor University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
73 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
70 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
|
70 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
69 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| University of West Georgia (UWG) |
Bachelor's
|
69 | Carrollton, Georgia | Public | westga.edu |
| Georgia College & State University |
Bachelor's
|
65 | Milledgeville, Georgia | Public | gcsu.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
65 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
63 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Universidad del Sagrado Corazon |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
59 | Santurce, Puerto Rico | Private | sagrado.edu |
| Quinnipiac University (QU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
55 | Hamden, Connecticut | Private | qu.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
|
55 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
55 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
55 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
53 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
|
53 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| Samford University |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
47 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Bachelor's
|
45 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Elon University |
Bachelor's
|
45 | Elon, North Carolina | Private | elon.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
44 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
44 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
42 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
42 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Full Sail University |
Master's
|
41 | Winter Park, Florida | Private | fullsail.edu |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | famu.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College |
Bachelor's
|
39 | New York, New York | Public | baruch.cuny.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
|
39 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Sacramento, California | Public | csus.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| Fordham University |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Bronx, New York | Private | fordham.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Whitewater, Wisconsin | Public | uww.edu |
| The University of Montana (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| DePaul University |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
33 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Loyola Marymount University (LMU) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Los Angeles, California | Private | lmu.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Chico, California | Public | csuchico.edu |
| Savannah State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Savannah, Georgia | Public | savannahstate.edu |
| Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Ruston, Louisiana | Public | latech.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
|
30 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| University at Albany (UAlbany) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Albany, New York | Public | albany.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Harvard University |
Master's
|
28 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| Ithaca College (IC) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Ithaca, New York | Private | ithaca.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Flagler College (Flagler) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Saint Augustine, Florida | Private | flagler.edu |
| Columbia College Chicago (CCC) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | colum.edu |
| Suffolk University |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | suffolk.edu |
| Radford University |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Radford, Virginia | Public | radford.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Journalism programs
How much can I earn with a Journalism degree?
Salaries for Journalism graduates vary by role and location. Communications Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $77,800 annually, while Editors earn around $75,260. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $90,894 compared to $46,750 in Arkansas. Approximately 219,250 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Journalism programs?
Currently 361 accredited institutions offer Journalism degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Missouri (Mizzou), Columbia (484 graduates), University of Oklahoma (OU), Norman Campus (237 graduates), and University of North Texas (UNT) (205 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Journalism growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 15,351 in 2010 to a peak of 12,322 in 2020, before declining slightly to 9,378 in 2023-24. This represents a 39% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Journalism degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Communications Teachers, Postsecondary, Editors, and Writers and Authors. Related occupations employ approximately 219,250 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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