2026 Best Journalism Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Journalism graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 525 colleges 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.
So you can compare your options, 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 Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Based in Columbia, MO, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. University Of Missouri Columbia Journalism students take on a median of $21,400 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Missouri Columbia
Out of the 525 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #2 spot. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public school based in Norman, OK. About 75% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,797, while out-of-state students pay about $27,377. Typical Journalism student debt is $24,250. See the full University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus profile
The strong Journalism programs at University Of Iowa earned it the #3 place in the United States. Located in Iowa City, IA, University Of Iowa is a public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. University Of Iowa Journalism students take on a median of $25,907 in debt. Read more about University Of Iowa
You'll be in good company at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #4 this year. Based in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Get the full Columbia University In The City Of New York report
Butte College came in at #5 on this year's Journalism ranking in the United States. See the full Butte College profile
Eastern Washington University placed #6 among Journalism schools in the United States. More on Eastern Washington University
San Joaquin Delta College landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. See the full San Joaquin Delta College profile
Youngstown State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. See the full Youngstown State University profile
Georgia College And State University did well this year, earning the #9 position. More on Georgia College And State University
San Diego City College placed #10 among Journalism schools in the United States. Read more about San Diego City College
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #11 in this year's ranking. More on Minnesota State University Moorhead
Troy University
Troy University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Get the full Troy University report
Cosumnes River College placed #13 among Journalism schools in the United States. Get the full Cosumnes River College report
State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota placed #14 among Journalism schools in the United States. Read the full report on State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. See the full Texas A And M University College Station profile
Gardner Webb University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. Read more about Gardner Webb University
Belmont University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. Read the full report on Belmont University
Ohio University Chillicothe Campus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. See the full Ohio University Chillicothe Campus profile
Ashland University did well this year, earning the #19 position. Get the full Ashland University report
Phoenix College
Phoenix College placed #20 among Journalism schools in the United States. Read the full report on Phoenix College
Bennington College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about Bennington College
Metropolitan State College Of Denver came in at #22 in this year's ranking. More on Metropolitan State College Of Denver
Suny College At Buffalo placed #23 among Journalism schools in the United States. Get the full Suny College At Buffalo report
Gonzaga University placed #24 among Journalism schools in the United States. Read the full report on Gonzaga University
Arkansas State University Main Campus came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Get the full Arkansas State University Main Campus report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Journalism Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Rutgers University Newark placed #26 among Journalism schools in the United States. Read the full report on Rutgers University Newark
Waynesburg University landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Waynesburg University
Briar Cliff University did well this year, earning the #28 position. Read the full report on Briar Cliff University
Rust College
Rust College did well this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on Rust College
Bucks County Community College came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Get the full Bucks County Community College report
Georgetown University did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read the full report on Georgetown University
Ball State University placed #32 among Journalism schools in the United States. See the full Ball State University profile
Casper College
Casper College came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Read more about Casper College
El Camino Community College District did well this year, earning the #34 position. Get the full El Camino Community College District report
Widener University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #35 position. More on Widener University Main Campus
Butler University landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Butler University
Lipscomb University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. Read more about Lipscomb University
Elon University
Elon University ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. Read the full report on Elon University
Los Angeles City College did well this year, earning the #39 position. More on Los Angeles City College
Rutgers University New Brunswick did well this year, earning the #40 position. Read the full report on Rutgers University New Brunswick
San Antonio College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. Read more about San Antonio College
University Of South Alabama ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. Get the full University Of South Alabama report
Wilson College
Wilson College placed #43 among Journalism schools in the United States. Get the full Wilson College report
Indiana University Bloomington placed #44 among Journalism schools in the United States. Read more about Indiana University Bloomington
Moreno Valley College landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. More on Moreno Valley College
Murray State University landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Murray State University
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Journalism schools. Read the full report on University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras
University Of South Carolina Columbia placed #48 among Journalism schools in the United States. Get the full University Of South Carolina Columbia report
Snow College
Snow College came in at #49 in this year's ranking. See the full Snow College profile
Creighton University did well this year, earning the #50 position. Read more about Creighton University
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 Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Journalism Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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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