2026 Best Journalism Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Journalism certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 525 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Journalism Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Leading the list is University Of Massachusetts Amherst, our #1 Journalism school in the United States. Set in Amherst, MA, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. University Of Massachusetts Amherst Journalism students take on a median of $25,447 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
The strong Journalism programs at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earned it the #2 place in the United States. Set in Eau Claire, WI, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,642, compared with $19,228 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,574 to complete their Journalism program here. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
A rank of #3 makes Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis one of the top choices in the United States. Located in Indianapolis, IN, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates 54% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. The median Journalism program debt is $22,837. Get the full Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis report
You'll be in good company at Ferris State University, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Big Rapids, MI, Ferris State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,778. Ferris State University Journalism students take on a median of $23,562 in debt. Get the full Ferris State University report
Webster University came in at #5 on this year's Journalism ranking in the United States. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Webster University is a private not-for-profit institution. Webster University graduates 64% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,750. Students borrow a median of $25,939 to complete their Journalism program here. Read the full report on Webster University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #6 among Journalism schools in the United States. Based in Cincinnati, OH, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete their Journalism program here. Get the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus report
Dixie State College Of Utah landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. Set in Saint George, UT, Dixie State College Of Utah is a public institution. About 28% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,306, with out-of-state students paying around $18,246. Graduates carry a median of $18,666 in student loans. Read the full report on Dixie State College Of Utah
Butte College landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. See the full Butte College profile
Cuny Graduate School And University Center ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. Read the full report on Cuny Graduate School And University Center
Savannah State University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Savannah State University
University Of Miami did well this year, earning the #11 position. See the full University Of Miami profile
City College Of San Francisco placed #12 among Journalism schools in the United States. More on City College Of San Francisco
Santa Ana College placed #13 among Journalism schools in the United States. Read the full report on Santa Ana College
New York University landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. See the full New York University profile
State University Of New York At New Paltz placed #15 among Journalism schools in the United States. Read more about State University Of New York At New Paltz
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. Read more about Carnegie Mellon University
Iowa Central Community College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. More on Iowa Central Community College
Salem State University placed #18 among Journalism schools in the United States. Get the full Salem State University report
Suny At Fredonia
Suny At Fredonia ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. See the full Suny At Fredonia profile
Rust College
Rust College landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Rust College
Seattle Pacific University landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Seattle Pacific University
Murray State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. Read the full report on Murray State University
Suffolk County Community College placed #23 among Journalism schools in the United States. More on Suffolk County Community College
University Of Central Florida placed #24 among Journalism schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Central Florida report
Augustana College Illinois landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Augustana College Illinois report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Journalism Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Augustana College South Dakota did well this year, earning the #26 position. Read the full report on Augustana College South Dakota
Lehigh University landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. More on Lehigh University
Northampton County Area Community College came in at #28 in this year's ranking. More on Northampton County Area Community College
Skyline College
Skyline College placed #29 among Journalism schools in the United States. Get the full Skyline College report
Western Michigan University placed #30 among Journalism schools in the United States. Read more about Western Michigan University
Texas State University San Marcos did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read more about Texas State University San Marcos
University Of South Alabama ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. Read the full report on University Of South Alabama
Waynesburg University did well this year, earning the #33 position. See the full Waynesburg University profile
Florida Institute Of Technology ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. See the full Florida Institute Of Technology profile
Olivet College
Olivet College did well this year, earning the #35 position. Read the full report on Olivet College
College Of The Ozarks came in at #36 in this year's ranking. See the full College Of The Ozarks profile
Delaware County Community College placed #37 among Journalism schools in the United States. Read the full report on Delaware County Community College
Denison University placed #38 among Journalism schools in the United States. More on Denison University
Pennsylvania Western University ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. More on Pennsylvania Western University
Chaffey College
Chaffey College did well this year, earning the #40 position. See the full Chaffey College profile
St Johns University New York ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. Get the full St Johns University New York report
Stony Brook University placed #42 among Journalism schools in the United States. Get the full Stony Brook University report
Asbury University came in at #43 in this year's ranking. More on Asbury University
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #44 in this year's ranking. More on Columbia University In The City Of New York
Georgia College And State University ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. More on Georgia College And State University
Grace College And Theological Seminary came in at #46 in this year's ranking. See the full Grace College And Theological Seminary profile
Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture did well this year, earning the #47 position. Read more about Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture
Linn Benton Community College did well this year, earning the #48 position. See the full Linn Benton Community College profile
Los Medanos College landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Los Medanos College report
California Baptist University landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. See the full California Baptist University profile
Related Journalism Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Journalism Schools (All Levels)
- Best Journalism Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Journalism Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Journalism Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Journalism Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Journalism Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 525 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).