2026 Best Journalism Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Journalism doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 525 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
No school ranked higher than The University Of Texas At Austin this year in the United States. Based in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. The University Of Texas At Austin Journalism students take on a median of $21,500 in debt. Read more about The University Of Texas At Austin
You'll be in good company at University Of Maryland College Park, which ranked #2 this year. This public school is set in College Park, MD. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. The median Journalism program debt is $23,250. Read the full report on University Of Maryland College Park
A rank of #3 makes University Of Iowa one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set in Iowa City, IA. About 75% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Typical Journalism student debt is $25,907. Get the full University Of Iowa report
Out of the 525 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #4 spot. Located in Columbia, MO, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. University Of Missouri Columbia posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,400 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Missouri Columbia
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #5 on this year's Journalism ranking in the United States. Based in Athens, OH, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. Ohio University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Ohio University Main Campus Journalism students take on a median of $24,208 in debt. Read more about Ohio University Main Campus
Widener University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #6 position. See the full Widener University Main Campus profile
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Indiana University Bloomington
Louisiana College placed #8 among Journalism schools in the United States. Get the full Louisiana College report
Ashford University placed #9 among Journalism schools in the United States. More on Ashford University
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. See the full Southern Arkansas University Main Campus profile
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Nebraska Lincoln profile
Augustana College Illinois came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Augustana College Illinois
Santa Barbara City College did well this year, earning the #13 position. More on Santa Barbara City College
The University Of Tampa placed #14 among Journalism schools in the United States. See the full The University Of Tampa profile
Troy University
Troy University placed #15 among Journalism schools in the United States. Read the full report on Troy University
Western Iowa Tech Community College landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Western Iowa Tech Community College report
South Plains College did well this year, earning the #17 position. See the full South Plains College profile
California State University Los Angeles came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on California State University Los Angeles
State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota placed #19 among Journalism schools in the United States. Read the full report on State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota
Trinity Washington University placed #20 among Journalism schools in the United States. Get the full Trinity Washington University report
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Madison report
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. Get the full Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis report
Los Angeles Valley College landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Los Angeles Valley College
Wayne State University landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. See the full Wayne State University profile
Depaul University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. More on Depaul University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Journalism Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Eastern Nazarene College placed #26 among Journalism schools in the United States. Read the full report on Eastern Nazarene College
Langston University landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. More on Langston University
Bradley University did well this year, earning the #28 position. More on Bradley University
California State University Long Beach did well this year, earning the #29 position. See the full California State University Long Beach profile
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Ohio State University Main Campus
Rhode Island College came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Rhode Island College
Michigan State University placed #32 among Journalism schools in the United States. More on Michigan State University
Oklahoma Baptist University landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Oklahoma Baptist University report
Texas A And M University Commerce did well this year, earning the #34 position. See the full Texas A And M University Commerce profile
University Of Washington Seattle Campus did well this year, earning the #35 position. More on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Cuny Kingsborough Community College came in at #36 in this year's ranking. Read more about Cuny Kingsborough Community College
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. Read the full report on University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Dominican University did well this year, earning the #38 position. Read the full report on Dominican University
University Of Memphis did well this year, earning the #39 position. Read the full report on University Of Memphis
Western Michigan University did well this year, earning the #40 position. Read more about Western Michigan University
George Washington University ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. More on George Washington University
Lorain County Community College came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Read more about Lorain County Community College
Madison Area Technical College placed #43 among Journalism schools in the United States. See the full Madison Area Technical College profile
Santa Monica College landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Santa Monica College
University Of Denver placed #45 among Journalism schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Denver report
Indiana University Southeast placed #46 among Journalism schools in the United States. Get the full Indiana University Southeast report
Lansing Community College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. Read more about Lansing Community College
Loyola University Chicago came in at #48 in this year's ranking. See the full Loyola University Chicago profile
The University Of Findlay did well this year, earning the #49 position. More on The University Of Findlay
San Francisco State University came in at #50 in this year's ranking. Get the full San Francisco State University report
Related Journalism Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Journalism Schools (All Levels)
- Best Journalism Certificate Degree Schools
- 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
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published 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).
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