Are you a news junkie with a knack for storytelling? Always up on today's latest trends? If so, you might be interested in a future career in journalism. Here are the best bachelor's degrees in journalism to help you begin!
If you're interested in current events, and have a knack for writing, then a career in journalism may be perfect for you. Journalists aren't afraid of being on the front lines, delivering stories from places that few others dare to go. They work on challenging the status quo and shed light on important topics in popular culture. Journalists are much more than just faces on your TV screen, they're reporters who dive deep into their creative storytelling abilities. With the growth of emerging technologies and platforms, journalists are adapting to the times and working on more exciting projects than ever before.
What kind of journalism degree should you get?
If you are just embarking on a career in the news industry, a bachelor's degree in journalism is an ideal place to start. However, if you already have some field experience and are further along in your career, you may want to consider a master's degree. Many journalism majors choose specific minors or additional majors in a particular area of interest like political science or business. This path is recommended if you'd like to be a beat reporter who focuses on a specific industry through your reporting.
If you're looking for a more flexible and affordable degree there are still plenty of options. Whether you have a job you can't leave, or you want to attend a school that's far from your home base, many universities now offer online programs. If you're looking for an online journalism degree we've also ranked the overall Best Online Colleges and Universities.
Accredited Online College Programs
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How much money do people make with a journalism degree?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, reporters and correspondents make an average annual income of nearly $40,000. Of course, your pay will depend on the market you're working in– big cities like New York and Los Angeles generate higher paychecks than smaller markets.
Additionally, there are plenty of other careers that a person with a journalism degree may pursue. In fact, some journalists can make upwards of $100,000 annually. If you're looking to make more money, you'll want to find a job in one of the top five markets including cities like New York, California, Florida, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
What can you actually do with a bachelor's degree in journalism?
There is a lot you can do with a bachelor's degree in journalism today. Once called a "dying major," journalism has made an impressive comeback. In fact, with all of the growing technology and media platforms available today, our world needs qualified reporters now more than ever. Of course, those with journalism degrees don't always become on-air reporters.
Other popular careers for journalism majors include news producers, news directors, careers in public relations and advertising, freelance writing, editing, book writing, publishing, and more. You can tailor your career options by taking specific courses in other subject areas as well.
What are the basic requirements for a bachelor's degree in journalism?
Most of the below bachelor's programs don't require extensive portfolios or past work experience. As most of the applicants are high school graduates, it's encouraged that students have excellent grades and substantial extracurricular activities on their resumes.
Once accepted into one of the below programs, requirements often include 120 hours of coursework as well as an internship experience. Some programs also require students to complete a final portfolio, thesis, or capstone project. Journalism students are held to the highest of standards and quickly become well-versed in all aspects of the First Amendment, as well as ethics in journalism.
What are the best journalism degrees?
We've found that the best degrees are those that offer not only fair prices, but ample flexibility and convenience as well! To find the best degrees for you, we look at the best schools in the country based on reputation, student satisfaction, program quality, and return on investment. Then we review the bottom line – just how much is this going to cost? Check out our methodology page for a more in-depth description of our data.
Best Journalism Degrees
See our rankings methodology page.
