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 |
Salary Comparison
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 | Admissions | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
484 |
SAT: 1150-1330 ACT: 23-29 |
Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
237 |
SAT: 1140-1330 ACT: 23-29 |
Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
205 |
SAT: 980-1230 ACT: 19-27 |
Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
203 |
SAT: 1360-1510 ACT: 28-32 |
Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
190 |
SAT: 1050-1290 ACT: 21-27 |
Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
183 |
SAT: 1220-1400 ACT: 27-32 |
University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
|
165 |
SAT: 1160-1390 ACT: 25-32 |
Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
163 |
SAT: 1230-1490 ACT: 27-33 |
Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
156 |
SAT: 1010-1240 ACT: 20-26 |
Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
140 |
SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 32-35 |
Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
137 |
SAT: 1370-1520 ACT: 32-35 |
College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
|
135 |
SAT: 1300-1480 ACT: 28-33 |
Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
133 | N/A | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
132 |
SAT: 1130-1360 ACT: 22-30 |
Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
|
125 |
SAT: 1190-1340 ACT: 25-31 |
Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
121 | N/A | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
109 |
SAT: 1130-1320 ACT: 22-28 |
Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
107 |
SAT: 1400-1520 ACT: 32-34 |
Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
|
105 |
SAT: 1170-1400 ACT: 27-32 |
Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
104 |
SAT: 1100-1290 ACT: 22-28 |
Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
|
103 |
SAT: 1270-1480 ACT: 28-33 |
New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
102 |
SAT: 1150-1350 ACT: 26-31 |
East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
98 |
SAT: 1230-1420 ACT: 28-33 |
Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
98 |
SAT: 1000-1230 ACT: 19-26 |
Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Bachelor's
|
95 | N/A | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
92 |
SAT: 1300-1480 ACT: 29-33 |
Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Bachelor's
|
87 |
SAT: 1040-1280 ACT: 19-26 |
Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
|
86 | N/A | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
79 | N/A | Fresno, California | Public | fresnostate.edu |
| Emerson College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
79 |
SAT: 1250-1410 ACT: 30-33 |
Boston, Massachusetts | Private | emerson.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
77 |
SAT: 1300-1450 ACT: 29-33 |
Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Bachelor's
|
77 | N/A | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
|
75 | N/A | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
73 | N/A | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Baylor University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
73 |
SAT: 1210-1400 ACT: 27-32 |
Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
70 |
SAT: 1160-1420 ACT: 21-30 |
Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
|
70 |
SAT: 1060-1300 ACT: 20-28 |
Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
69 |
SAT: 1050-1220 ACT: 21-28 |
Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| University of West Georgia (UWG) |
Bachelor's
|
69 |
SAT: 930-1130 ACT: 17-23 |
Carrollton, Georgia | Public | westga.edu |
| Georgia College & State University |
Bachelor's
|
65 |
SAT: 1060-1240 ACT: 21-26 |
Milledgeville, Georgia | Public | gcsu.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
65 |
SAT: 1040-1260 ACT: 20-27 |
Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
63 |
SAT: 1000-1230 ACT: 18-25 |
Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Universidad del Sagrado Corazon |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
59 | N/A | Santurce, Puerto Rico | Private | sagrado.edu |
| Quinnipiac University (QU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
55 |
SAT: 1100-1300 ACT: 25-29 |
Hamden, Connecticut | Private | qu.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
|
55 |
SAT: 1190-1350 ACT: 25-29 |
Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
55 |
SAT: 1080-1250 ACT: 25-30 |
Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
55 |
SAT: 1180-1380 ACT: 26-32 |
Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
53 |
SAT: 1310-1480 ACT: 27-31 |
Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
|
53 |
SAT: 1150-1330 ACT: 23-28 |
Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52 |
SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 33-35 |
Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
52 |
SAT: 1330-1480 ACT: 29-32 |
Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51 |
SAT: 1020-1210 ACT: 21-29 |
University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 |
SAT: 905-1205 ACT: 17-24 |
Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| Samford University |
Bachelor's
|
47 |
SAT: 1070-1260 ACT: 23-29 |
Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
47 |
SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 28-33 |
Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
|
47 |
SAT: 1020-1220 ACT: 19-25 |
Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Bachelor's
|
45 |
SAT: 1350-1500 ACT: 31-34 |
Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Elon University |
Bachelor's
|
45 |
SAT: 1143-1305 ACT: 23-28 |
Elon, North Carolina | Private | elon.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
44 |
SAT: 1240-1380 ACT: 25-31 |
Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
44 |
SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 27-31 |
Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
42 |
SAT: 1270-1510 ACT: 29-34 |
Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
42 |
SAT: 1110-1350 ACT: 21-28 |
Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Full Sail University |
Master's
|
41 | N/A | Winter Park, Florida | Private | fullsail.edu |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) |
Bachelor's
|
40 |
SAT: 1030-1150 ACT: 20-24 |
Tallahassee, Florida | Public | famu.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
40 |
SAT: 1110-1350 ACT: 23-29 |
Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College |
Bachelor's
|
39 | SAT: 1210-1410 | New York, New York | Public | baruch.cuny.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
|
39 |
SAT: 980-1190 ACT: 19-26 |
San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
38 | N/A | Sacramento, California | Public | csus.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
|
38 |
SAT: 1080-1290 ACT: 21-28 |
Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Bachelor's
|
38 |
SAT: 1320-1480 ACT: 30-34 |
Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
37 |
SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 26-31 |
Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | N/A | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
|
36 |
SAT: 1210-1420 ACT: 29-33 |
Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
36 |
SAT: 1010-1230 ACT: 22-27 |
Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Bachelor's
|
35 |
SAT: 885-1110 ACT: 17-24 |
Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| Fordham University |
Bachelor's
|
35 |
SAT: 1330-1490 ACT: 30-33 |
Bronx, New York | Private | fordham.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Bachelor's
|
35 | ACT: 18-24 | Whitewater, Wisconsin | Public | uww.edu |
| The University of Montana (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | ACT: 23-28 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
|
34 |
SAT: 900-1160 ACT: 19-26 |
Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | N/A | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| DePaul University |
Bachelor's
|
33 |
SAT: 1130-1340 ACT: 26-31 |
Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
33 |
SAT: 1150-1360 ACT: 24-29 |
Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Loyola Marymount University (LMU) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | N/A | Los Angeles, California | Private | lmu.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
31 |
SAT: 1040-1260 ACT: 21-28 |
Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
30 | N/A | Chico, California | Public | csuchico.edu |
| Savannah State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | N/A | Savannah, Georgia | Public | savannahstate.edu |
| Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
30 |
SAT: 1045-1290 ACT: 21-27 |
Ruston, Louisiana | Public | latech.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
|
30 |
SAT: 1480-1570 ACT: 33-35 |
New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| University at Albany (UAlbany) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | N/A | Albany, New York | Public | albany.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
|
30 |
SAT: 1100-1280 ACT: 21-27 |
Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | N/A | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Bachelor's
|
29 |
SAT: 1160-1340 ACT: 27-31 |
Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | N/A | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Harvard University |
Master's
|
28 |
SAT: 1500-1580 ACT: 34-36 |
Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| Ithaca College (IC) |
Bachelor's
|
28 |
SAT: 1190-1370 ACT: 27-31 |
Ithaca, New York | Private | ithaca.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
|
27 |
SAT: 1090-1270 ACT: 22-28 |
Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Flagler College (Flagler) |
Bachelor's
|
26 |
SAT: 990-1200 ACT: 19-24 |
Saint Augustine, Florida | Private | flagler.edu |
| Columbia College Chicago (CCC) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | N/A | Chicago, Illinois | Private | colum.edu |
| Suffolk University |
Bachelor's
|
26 |
SAT: 1090-1280 ACT: 24-32 |
Boston, Massachusetts | Private | suffolk.edu |
| Radford University |
Bachelor's
|
26 |
SAT: 950-1170 ACT: 19-26 |
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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