2023 Best Value Journalism Schools
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Journalism School for You
Journalism is the #70 most popular major in the country with 13,552 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Journalism Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 264 schools in the United States to see which programs offered the best value experiences for journalism students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the United States
Check out the journalism programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Journalism
Our 2023 rankings named Brigham Young University - Provo the best value school in the United States for journalism students. BYU is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Provo.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at BYU are $6,120 a year. While working on their degree, journalism majors at BYU accumulate an average of around $11,800 in student debt.
BYU also claimed a spot on our Best Journalism Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Austin Community College District. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools list. Located in the large city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a public college with a very large student population.
Austin Community College District undergraduate students pay an average of $10,590 in tuition and fees each year.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Wilmington University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools list. Located in the large suburb of New Castle, Wilmington University is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Wilmington University are $11,760 a year.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Dakota State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools list. South Dakota State is a large public school located in the town of Brookings.
South Dakota State undergraduate students pay an average of $12,809 in tuition and fees each year.
South Dakota State excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Journalism Schools list.
The excellent programs at University of Nebraska at Kearney helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best journalism schools in the United States. Located in the town of Kearney, UNK is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
UNK undergraduate students pay an average of $15,320 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, journalism graduates from UNK carry an average student debtload of $25,000.
With a ranking of #6, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s best value schools for journalism students. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Dakota State University are $14,876 per year.
In addition to its great value ranking, North Dakota State University is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Journalism Schools list.
St. Bonaventure University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools ranking. St. Bonaventure is a small private not-for-profit school located in the remote town of Saint Bonaventure.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at St. Bonaventure are $37,640 per year. While working on their degree, journalism majors at St. Bonaventure accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt.
Universidad del Sagrado Corazon landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value journalism programs. Sagrado is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Santurce.
Sagrado undergraduate students pay an average of $6,120 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, journalism majors at Sagrado accumulate an average of around $13,750 in student debt.
San Diego Mesa College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value journalism programs. San Diego Mesa College is a large public school located in the large city of San Diego.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at San Diego Mesa College are $8,512 per year.
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for journalism students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in the distant town of Whitewater, UW - Whitewater is a public school with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Whitewater are $16,602 a year. After completing their degree, journalism graduates from UW - Whitewater carry an average student debtload of $25,873.
UW - Whitewater excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Journalism Schools list.
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value journalism programs. Located in the town of Shippensburg, Ship is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Ship are $14,122 a year. On average, journalism graduates from Ship take out $26,000 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $261, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
West Texas A&M University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value journalism programs. West Texas A&M University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Canyon.
West Texas A&M University undergraduate students pay an average of $11,208 in tuition and fees each year.
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for journalism students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in the small city of Oshkosh, UW Oshkosh is a public school with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW Oshkosh are $15,306 per year.
In addition to its great value ranking, UW Oshkosh is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Journalism Schools list.
With a ranking of #15, Ferris State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for journalism students. Located in the distant town of Big Rapids, Ferris is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Ferris are $13,188 per year.
University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools ranking. UW - River Falls is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of River Falls.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - River Falls are $15,661 per year.
UW - River Falls excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Journalism Schools list.
University of Florida ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools list. UF is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UF are $28,659 per year. After completing their degree, journalism graduates from UF carry an average student debtload of $16,477.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UF also did well on our Best Journalism Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
With a ranking of #18, Western Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for journalism students. WIU is a moderately-sized public school located in the remote town of Macomb.
WIU undergraduate students pay an average of $13,297 in tuition and fees each year.
Northern Illinois University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, NIU is a public college with a large student population.
NIU undergraduate students pay an average of $14,738 in tuition and fees each year. On average, journalism graduates from NIU take out $25,750 in student loans while working on their degree.
University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value journalism programs. UMN Duluth is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth.
UMN Duluth undergraduate students pay an average of $19,148 in tuition and fees each year. Journalism majors at UMN Duluth take out an average of $25,250 in student loans while working on their egree.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UMN Duluth also is in the top 15% of our Best Journalism Schools ranking.
California State University - Chico landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value journalism programs. Chico State is a large public school located in the medium-sized city of Chico.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Chico State are $19,744 per year. Journalism majors at Chico State take out an average of $19,479 in student loans while working on their egree.
San Jose State University landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value journalism programs. San Jose State is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose.
San Jose State undergraduate students pay an average of $19,732 in tuition and fees each year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, San Jose State also is in the top 15% of our Best Journalism Schools ranking.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools list. Located in the small city of Carbondale, SIUC is a public school with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at SIUC are $15,240 a year. On average, journalism graduates from SIUC take out $25,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value journalism programs. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are $28,105 a year. After completing their degree, journalism graduates from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo carry an average student debtload of $18,581. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $310.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also is in the top 5% of our Best Journalism Schools ranking.
Read full report on Journalism at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Central Michigan University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools list. Located in the distant town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan is a public college with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Central Michigan are $13,094 a year. On average, journalism graduates from Central Michigan take out $26,603 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $297, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Rest of the Top Best Value Journalism Schools
Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Journalism Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Northeastern State University | Tahlequah, OK |
| 42 | Iowa State University | Ames, IA |
| 42 | University of Oklahoma Norman Campus | Norman, OK |
| 44 | University of Memphis | Memphis, TN |
| 45 | University of Wisconsin - Madison | Madison, WI |
| 46 | Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, MI |
| 47 | University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR |
| 48 | Ohio University - Athens Campus | Athens, OH |
| 49 | University of Nevada - Reno | Reno, NV |
| 50 | University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR |
| 51 | Concordia College at Moorhead | Moorhead, MN |
| 51 | California State University - Long Beach | Long Beach, CA |
Journalism by Region
View the Best Value Journalism Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Journalism Rankings
Majors Related to Journalism
Journalism is one of 5 different types of programs to choose from.
Majors Similar to Journalism
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Communication & Media Studies | 66,787 |
| Public Relations & Advertising | 21,099 |
| Radio, Television & Digital Communication | 17,669 |
| Communication & Journalism (Other) | 1,128 |
| Publishing | 336 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Jfurrer.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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