2026 Best Value Journalism Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Journalism doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 525 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Journalism Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
The University Of Texas At Austin tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Journalism doctoral degree schools in the United States. Located in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete their Journalism program here. Median earnings reach $75,121 ten years out. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 27% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full The University Of Texas At Austin report
You'll get strong value at Ohio University Main Campus, which ranked #2 this year. Set in Athens, OH, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Typical Journalism student debt is $24,208. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,581 ten years after entry. Set against $24,208 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants. More on Ohio University Main Campus
Out of the 525 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in Columbia, MO. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,400 to complete their Journalism program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,403 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%. Read the full report on University Of Missouri Columbia
Out of the 525 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Iowa landed the #4 spot. University Of Iowa is a public school based in Iowa City, IA. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Typical Journalism student debt is $25,907. University Of Iowa alumni report median earnings of $64,762 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants. Read more about University Of Iowa
A rank of #5 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the best values in the United States. University Of Maryland College Park is a public school based in College Park, MD. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. The median Journalism program debt is $23,250. Median earnings reach $82,860 ten years out. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted. Read more about University Of Maryland College Park
The University Of Findlay placed #6 among the best-value Journalism schools in the United States. Read the full report on The University Of Findlay
University Of Georgia offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Get the full University Of Georgia report
Alpena Community College landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Alpena Community College profile
Butler University came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. More on Butler University
Dakota Wesleyan University placed #10 among the best-value Journalism schools in the United States. More on Dakota Wesleyan University
Goshen College
Goshen College placed #11 among the best-value Journalism schools in the United States. Read the full report on Goshen College
Union University
Union University came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. More on Union University
San Diego State University offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. More on San Diego State University
University Of Central Arkansas offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Read the full report on University Of Central Arkansas
University Of Denver placed #15 among the best-value Journalism schools in the United States. More on University Of Denver
Utah State University landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Utah State University profile
Biola University
Biola University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Journalism schools. More on Biola University
California State University Northridge ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Journalism schools. See the full California State University Northridge profile
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Cuny Bernard M Baruch College
Denison University landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Denison University
San Francisco State University landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full San Francisco State University report
University Of Colorado Boulder placed #22 among the best-value Journalism schools in the United States. See the full University Of Colorado Boulder profile
University Of North Texas offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read the full report on University Of North Texas
Washington Adventist University landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Washington Adventist University
Augustana College Illinois came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Augustana College Illinois
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Journalism Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Northampton County Area Community College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Journalism schools. Read the full report on Northampton County Area Community College
Texarkana College offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Read the full report on Texarkana College
Ashford University landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Ashford University profile
Iowa Lakes Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. See the full Iowa Lakes Community College profile
Texas Christian University came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. See the full Texas Christian University profile
Duquesne University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Journalism schools. More on Duquesne University
Kentucky State University placed #32 among the best-value Journalism schools in the United States. Read the full report on Kentucky State University
Temple University came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Temple University report
Wilmington University landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Wilmington University
Chandler Gilbert Community College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. See the full Chandler Gilbert Community College profile
Huntington University landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Huntington University
Kennesaw State University placed #37 among the best-value Journalism schools in the United States. See the full Kennesaw State University profile
Our Lady Of The Lake University San Antonio ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Journalism schools. Get the full Our Lady Of The Lake University San Antonio report
Wayne State University came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. See the full Wayne State University profile
Boston University placed #40 among the best-value Journalism schools in the United States. Read more about Boston University
Elon University
Elon University came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Elon University report
Los Medanos College placed #42 among the best-value Journalism schools in the United States. Read the full report on Los Medanos College
School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. More on University Of Wisconsin Whitewater
Villanova University offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on Villanova University
Cabrillo College
Cabrillo College landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Cabrillo College
Linn Benton Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on Linn Benton Community College
Depaul University ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Journalism schools. Read the full report on Depaul University
Dominican University placed #49 among the best-value Journalism schools in the United States. See the full Dominican University profile
Roosevelt University landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Roosevelt University profile
Related Journalism Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Journalism Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Journalism Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Journalism Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Journalism Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Journalism Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Journalism Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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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