Journalism: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Journalism is a dynamic field dedicated to the ethical gathering, verification, and dissemination of news and information across diverse media platforms. This program equips students with the critical thinking, writing, and multimedia skills necessary to report compelling stories in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
- News Reporting and Writing: Develops foundational skills in crafting accurate, concise, and engaging news stories for print, broadcast, and online outlets.
- Media Ethics and Law: Explores the legal and ethical responsibilities of journalists, including issues of privacy, libel, freedom of the press, and journalistic integrity.
- Visual Storytelling: Teaches the use of photography, video production, and graphic design to enhance narrative impact and audience engagement.
- Digital Media Production: Focuses on content creation for web platforms, social media, podcasts, and other digital channels using current tools and publishing strategies.
- Investigative Journalism: Trains students in advanced research techniques, data analysis, and methods for uncovering and presenting complex stories of public interest.
- Public Relations and Strategic Communication: Covers the principles of managing public image, crafting messages for diverse audiences, and navigating media relations in professional settings.
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 and News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists. 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 70,810 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 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists 27-3023 | $60,280 | $34,590 - $162,430 | 41,550 | $28.98 |
Journalism Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $44,890 in Vermont to $109,805 in California—a 145% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and District of Columbia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 70,810 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 39 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 Columbia University in the City of New York (230 graduates), Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (199 graduates), The University of Alabama (UA) (123 graduates), University of Georgia (UGA) (74 graduates), and Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus (68 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,098 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Master's
|
230 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
199 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
123 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Master's
|
74 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Other Award
|
68 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
67 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
53 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | uprrp.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Drake University |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Des Moines, Iowa | Private | drake.edu |
| Kentucky State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Frankfort, Kentucky | Public | kysu.edu |
| Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) |
Postbac Cert.
|
16 | Portland, Maine | Private | meca.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNK) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Kearney, Nebraska | Public | unk.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Master's
|
11 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| University of South Alabama (USA) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Mobile, Alabama | Public | southalabama.edu |
| Fairfield University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Fairfield, Connecticut | Private | fairfield.edu |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
Master's
|
7 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | web.mit.edu |
| Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | San Diego, California | Private | pointloma.edu |
| Central State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Wilberforce, Ohio | Public | centralstate.edu |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) |
Master's
|
5 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | saic.edu |
| Concordia College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Moorhead, Minnesota | Private | concordiacollege.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| Taylor University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Upland, Indiana | Private | taylor.edu |
| Queens University of Charlotte |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Private | queens.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| Marietta College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Marietta, Ohio | Private | marietta.edu |
| Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | ollusa.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Melbourne, Florida | Private | fit.edu |
| Lewis University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Romeoville, Illinois | Private | lewisu.edu |
| Ashland University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Ashland, Ohio | Private | ashland.edu |
| Lipscomb University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
| Southern Adventist University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Collegedale, Tennessee | Private | southern.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Missouri Baptist University (MBU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | mobap.edu |
| Bennett College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Private | bennett.edu |
| Milligan University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Milligan, Tennessee | Private | milligan.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 News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists earn around $60,280. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $109,805 compared to $44,890 in Vermont. Approximately 70,810 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 39 accredited institutions offer Journalism degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Columbia University in the City of New York (230 graduates), Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (199 graduates), and The University of Alabama (UA) (123 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 increased over the past decade, rising from 727 in 2010 to a peak of 1,156 in 2020, before declining slightly to 1,098 in 2023-24. This represents a 51% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, 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, News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists, . Related occupations employ approximately 70,810 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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