Journalism collects information about events, problems, and trends and communicates it to broad audiences as news. In this discipline, students can demonstrate expertise in several areas, including reporting, editing, anchoring, producing, managing, etc.

The popularity of a journalism degree exceeds that of many other degrees. It is among the most popular degrees in the country, ranking about #60 out of 368.

USA top institutions offer 4-year undergraduate and 2-year postgraduate degrees in journalism. A master's degree in journalism costs about 30,000 USD annually in the USA, whereas a bachelor's degree costs roughly 40,000 USD annually.

Journalism education institutions in the USA will provide courses designed for various aspects of journalism. Between 2019 and 2029, the media and communication sectors are predicted to add about 46,000 new jobs.

The top-paying states for reporters and correspondents are the District of Columbia, New York, California, Arizona, and New Jersey.

A journalism college graduate in the USA has an average salary of about $55,000 annually. An average wage increase of 12 per cent every 16 months is what students may anticipate.

Top Journalism Universities in the US (QS World Ranking by Subject 2023)

The United States is home to some of the best journalism schools in the world (QS Ranking 2022). Many international students consider the nation one of the most well-liked places to study abroad.

The following is a list of the best US universities, as determined by the QS World Rankings 2022 by subject for Journalism (Media & Communication).

Top Journalism University in the USA: Bachelor of Journalism

A bachelor's degree in journalism can be completed in the US in four years, with either a Bachelor of Science (BS) or a Bachelor of Arts degree awarded upon graduation (BA). Core journalism courses that include writing, reporting, editing, media law, journalism history, and ethics will be students' first take.

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Depending on the university and the course schedule, a student pursuing a bachelor's degree in journalism in the USA will invest between 30,000 and 65,000 USD annually.

This undergraduate degree educates and prepares students for in-depth study of what enhances and restricts effective human communication, realising that communication is much more complex than just speaking and writing ability.

The following are some of the most popular Journalism Bachelor's degree universities in US universities with program and fee details:

Academic Requirements: Bachelor of Journalism in USA

University of Southern California

• Applicants must have passed 12th
• Students are expected to have earned a grade of C or better in at least three years of high school mathematics, including Advanced Algebra (Algebra II)
• Official Test Scores (IELTS 7, TOEFL 100, PTE 68)

The University of Texas at Austin

• Should have completed a secondary school program recognized as being on par with a U.S. high school.
• Submit a copy of your official secondary school transcript (mark sheet) that includes all your assignments and grades.
• Test results (IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 79, PTE 58)

University of Pennsylvania

• To enter Penn State's academic colleges, applicants must have completed at least high school.
• Official Test Scores (IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 80)

University of Wisconsin-Madison

• The university must earn an intermediate degree.
• Official Test Scores (IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 80)
• Complete either:

• the fourth unit of a foreign language; or
• the third unit of a foreign language and the second unit of a different foreign language.

University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

• Candidates must pass intermediate exams with average marks greater than 70 and no marks lower than 60.
• In these courses, achieve a grade point average (GPA) of 3.4 or higher with no mark worse than a C.
• The International English Language Testing System score must be 6.5 or higher (IELTS).

Top Journalism University in the USA: Master of Journalism

Top Communication Universities in the USA

In the USA, a master's degree in journalism is a two-year full-time program available as either a master of arts or a master of science.

The aim of the degree is the ethical and truthful examination and reporting of events from both domestic and foreign settings. Journalism is in charge of informing the public and managing the media. A master's degree in journalism falls under the social sciences, media studies, and communication sciences.

After earning a master's degree in journalism, students can find a profession in the USA at news organisations, companies that create content, media outlets like magazines and newspapers, and journal agencies. 

A graduate student may submit applications for a range of job positions. Content writers for web-based publications are another upcoming and desirable employment position for which journalism students are frequently hired.

After earning a two-year degree, students can choose from corporations like the New York Times, CNN, etc. and the top-ranked universities in the USA.  

Moreover, the United States is among the highest-paid nations for journalists, making the program a lucrative degree with comfortable median incomes. A journalism graduate in the USA has an average salary of 45,000 USD.

The following are some of the most popular Journalism Master's degree universities  in US universities with program and fee details:

Academic Requirements: Master of Journalism in the USA

University of Southern California

• Any type of journalism, including text news stories, audio or video news scripts (and links), lengthy text pieces, blog posts, news, or VR/AR content made for mobile and social platforms, is acceptable.
• Two online letters of recommendation are required, and professional recommendations are expected
• copies of official undergraduate transcripts from all colleges/universities you attended.
• English Proficiency Requirements (TOEFL 90, IELTS 6.5)

The University of Texas at Austin

• Candidates must pass a bachelor's degree from a regionally approved American university or a degree or equivalent from a foreign university.
• A minimum score of 3.00 CGPA
• English Proficiency Requirements (TOEFL 79, IELTS 6.5)
• Recommendation letters

Stanford University

• Students must complete a four years bachelor's degree from a recognized institution.
• The average cumulative high school GPA of students admitted to Stanford is 3.96 on a 4.0 scale.
• English proficiency requirement (IELTS 7.0, TOEFL 100, PTE 68 & GRE 328)
• Three letters of recommendation are required; one of them, while Stanford would prefer at least two, must be from an academic source. Online submission of recommendations is required.
• Reasons or intentions for pursuing studies in this program, including a description of prior experience in SOP.

University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Students must complete four years of undergraduate study and have a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
• Write a statement of purpose outlining your goals for graduate education.
• Writing Samples  (news stories, blog posts, white papers, reports or portions of an academic paper)
• Arrange for three letters of recommendation.
• English Proficiency Requirements (TOEFL 92, IELTS 7)

Top Journalism University in the USA: PhD in Journalism

PhD in Journalism at USA universities offers a program that focuses on presenting regional, governmental, and international events to the public's attention. Journalists educate the public through conducting interviews, seeing events, or reading, summarising, and analysing prior articles and relevant materials.

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A PhD in the USA can take up to 5-6 years; however, students with a graduate degree in the same subject can finish it in 3–4 years. Both full-time and part-time doctoral programs in journalism are offered. Students can earn between $20,000 and $50,000 annually in their chosen field of study.

In the USA, a PhD student may earn up to 30,000 USD more a year than a student with a master's degree.

A list of top US journalism schools offering PhDs can be found in the table below:

Academic Requirements: Doctor of Journalism in the USA

• Master's degree in journalism or English (honours) 
• Minimum 3.50 in previous graduate work
• Proof of English proficiency with the following minimum scores: (IELTS: 7, TOEFL (iBT): 100)
• Strong Graduate Record Exam (GRE) test scores
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Resume1 or two pages
• A minimum of three years of professional experience in the mass communication field is preferred.

Top Journalism University in the USA: Scholarships

Top Journalism University in the USA: Job Scope

Students with journalism degrees gain writing, interviewing, and research skills to complement their innate curiosity. Speaking with various people is necessary for journalism careers to obtain information and different viewpoints.

In the United States, there are currently thought to be more than 44,000 journalists. Graduates in the subject are employed by advertising and public relations companies, which frequently require the media knowledge and communications expertise they provide.

Building a professional network, learning new skills, and showcasing your narrative prowess on numerous platforms can help graduates advance their journalism careers in the United States. While people may think graduates from journalism only work in publishing or information industries, their skills are in high demand in other fields like events, seminars, news, media and so on.

New York and California, centres for broadcast news organisations and rising media enterprises, are home to many of the USA’s journalism careers. The BLS estimates that 6,020 journalists live in New York, with a yearly salary of $90,000. California businesses employ 4,500 journalists, costing an average of $67,000 annually.

Some major journalism and mass communication-related job roles and their average wage ranges in the USA are shown below: