20 Best Journalism Schools (Bachelor’s)

UT Austin is home to more than 51,000 students and 482,000+ proud alumni. Alumni include journalists Bill Moyer and Walter Cronkite, Matthew McConaughey, and more. UT Austin’s Moody College of Communication is among the best journalism schools in the U.S. Moody’s bachelor’s of journalism comes with loads of opportunities.

Moody College of Communication equips undergraduate journalism students with “powerful new tools of the digital age.” They do this through critical thinking, writing, and journalistic tools. Through this program, you will complete a combination of:

• core curriculum classes
• major requirements
• electives

You also have opportunities to study abroad in London, the Czech Republic, or Austria.

Through internships and student organizations, you will gain an array of experience to pave your way to your future journalism career. Whether you will be a first-year student or a transfer student, UT Austin’s admission page provides all the details you need in order to apply.

Florida Students- “Gators”- are known as “an unstoppable force for the gator good.” With students and alumni from all 50 states and 135 countries, the community of purpose is far-reaching (UF “About”).  The Bachelor’s of Science in journalism produces top-notch journalists working for major media companies and Pulitzer Prize winners.

Through the BS in journalism major, you can focus on either journalism or sports and media. Regardless of your specialization as a journalism student, you will fine-tune your storytelling talents to prepare you for a fulfilling media career. Notable courses include:

• Broadcast Writing Bootcamp
• Applied Fact Finding
• Data Literacy for Communicators
• Media Entrepreneurship

This program requires 124 credit hours with three goals in the curriculum:

• content
• critical thinking
• communication

Graduates of one of the country’s best journalism schools become notable reporters, writers, editors, and more. UF’s Department of Journalism consistently ranks among the best in the nation and is professionally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

The University of Maryland is the state’s flagship university and the nation’s first “Do Good” campus. This means that they employ a whole-hearted commitment to social entrepreneurship. UMD’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism is among the best journalism colleges. Here, you will find a Bachelor of Arts in journalism with three specializations: 

• Broadcast
• Investigative reporting
• Sports

Located just miles from Washington D.C., Philip Merrill College of Journalism employs the best journalists in the world, including those with Pulitzer, Peabody, and Emmy awards. You will learn from world-acclaimed researchers and journalists through small class sizes. This bachelor’s degree in journalism program focuses on the fundamentals, and video and digital storytelling with innovative techniques.  

An internship and capstone are also required in this journalism program. Admission to UMD’s journalism school is competitive, and space is limited. Journalism students are admitted based on “high school scholastic performance.” The stronger your writing skills and SAT/ACT scores, the better chance you have.

Founded in 1848, UW-Madison has been “a catalyst for the extraordinary,” producing nearly 460,000 alumni who are changing the world all over the world! UW-Madison’s journalism school can be traced back to 1904 through a single professor, Willard G. Bleyer. UW-Madison is one of the nation’s first and finest journalism schools.

At UW-Madison, you can earn either a Journalism Bachelor of Arts (J.B.A.) or a Journalism Bachelor of Science (J.B.S.). This program prepares you for jobs journalism jobs in areas like the following:

• Reporting
• Public relations
• Advertising
• Marketing
• Digital and social media

You can choose one of two concentrations: strategic communication or reporting.

Likewise, you can earn certificates in sports communication and/or digital studies. 

UW-Madison’s journalism program boasts a “near equal mix of practice and theory” with a reputation as “brainy, academically high-powered department.” This means that you gain both the “why” and “how-to” of the journalism field. You will gain experience through local and campus media opportunities like internships and student clubs.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of the best in the nation, ranked as #15 best public university and #47 best national university (U.S. News & World Report).  With more than 47,000 students from all 50 states and over 100 countries, it’s no surprise that Illinois produces graduates who make significant impacts all over the globe. 

Illinois’s vibrant Bachelor of Science in journalism provides a solid background in journalism along with five concentrations:

1. Multimedia Reporting
2. Investigative Journalism
3. News Editing
4. Audio Journalism
5. Multimedia Editing and Design

We know it may be hard to choose just one concentration here, so you can select two concentrations or one as a minor. A huge perk of the journalism program at Illinois is the one-on-one attention and feedback through small classes in “working newsrooms.” Notable courses include:

• Newsgathering Across Platforms
• Journalism Ethics & Diversity
• Multimedia Editing and Design

Most BS in journalism programs are approximately 124 credit hours.

Graduates of one of the nation’s best journalism schools have many career options, from corporate communications to television and radio production. Illinois reports that 83% of graduates are employed or continuing their education (Illinois Journalism). Are you interested in the University of Illinois? 

Check out admissions requirements here.

Here’s a fun fact: Ohio University Bobcats don’t hibernate! “Through snow or sun, OHIO is forever moving forward.” Ohio University (called OHIO) is nestled in the southeast Ohio foothills in the “vibrant Uptown scene.” This historic campus boasts #1 “Best College Small Town” from USA Today. 

OHIO’s E.W Scripps School of Journalism, one of the best journalism schools in the country, emphasizes:

• professional excellence
• critical thinking
• social responsibility

The Bachelor of Science in journalism includes two tracks: news and information and strategic communication. You can also earn minors in advertising and public relations.

As a student in Ohio University’s journalism program, you will complete the journalism core classes like: 

• The Future of Media and Ethics
• Mass Media & Society
• Multiplatform Reporting & Writing

You will then focus on your concentration courses, electives, and an internship of at least 200 hours. OHIO also features the Carr Van Anda Program for students whose interests and career goals span beyond the two offered tracks.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was the nation’s first public university. It opened its doors in 1795! The deep impact UNC has is no surprise to anyone. Along with numerous national awards and recognitions, this prestigious university is global and growing, “connecting Carolina and the world.”

UNC’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media is one of the top journalism schools in the U.S. The Bachelor of Arts in Media and Journalism focuses on a background in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. You can choose a concentration in advertising/public relations or journalism. Regardless of your chosen area, you will take courses such as:

• Introduction to Digital Storytelling
• Writing and Reporting
• Media Ethics

You will have opportunities to apply what you learn through campus programs like:

• The Daily Tar Heel
• Black Ink
• Blue & White
• Society of Professional Journalists
• American Advertising Federation,
• Public Relations Student Society of America

Oh yeah, and we can’t forget to mention internships and study abroad programs! Through this top journalism school, you may find yourself studying in:

• Australia
• Chile
• Hong Kong
• Spain
• London

Arizona State University claims many awards. One of them is being #1 in the U.S. for innovation from U.S. News & World Report. ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication is one of the best colleges for journalism in the nation! Walter Cronkite School is also home to Arizona PBS, the largest media outlet operated by a journalism school in the world.

Walter Cronkite School offers professional, hands-on programs like the Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication.  Through the journalism program, you will complete 120 credit hours and courses such as:

• News Reporting and Writing
• Multimedia Journalism
• Videography
• Public Relations Research

You can also earn an accelerated bachelor’s and master’s degree program in just five years!

ASU journalism school graduates work in all types of settings:

• Corporate and Business Communications Divisions
• Digital Media Content Providers
• International News Outlets
• Magazines
• National and Local Newspapers

To apply to this top journalism school, you need at least a 3.0 GPA and required SAT/ACT scores, which are detailed here. In addition, ASU offers generous financial aid options. More than 70 percent of all students receive financial aid assistance.

Established in 1839, the University of Missouri (known as “Mizzou” or “Missouri”) was the first public university west of the Mississippi River. It was also the world’s first journalism school! Globally recognized, Missouri’s School of Journalism features programs that allow you to dive into your future career right away through an array of hands-on experiences.

As one of the best journalism schools in America, Missouri’s Bachelor’s of Journalism allows you to choose a concentration in strategic communication or multidisciplinary studies. Journalism program core requirement courses include:

• Principles of Journalism in Democracy
• Audiences and Persuasion
• Cross-Cultural Journalism

You will also take courses in career paths and specialty areas such as Photojournalism and Documentary and Reporting and Writing.

While earning a degree from one of the best journalism schools in the country, you will gain practical experience through Missouri’s six professional newsrooms, including NBC affiliate and KOMU-TV. The list of possible careers for Missouri journalism graduates is vast:

• Account Management
• Audience Engagement
• Data Analysis and Visualization
• Website Editing and Writing

Cal State Fullerton is the leading campus of the California State University system. It is ranked #4 among Top Public Schools and #5 on Most Innovative Schools (U.S. News & World Report). CSUF offers 110 degree programs across nine colleges and departments, including a Bachelor of Arts in communication with a journalism concentration.

CSUF’s College of Communication is the largest west of the Mississippi and the second-largest in the United States! The BA in communication/journalism includes:

• Communications core
• Journalism courses
• Electives
• Internship

Required courses include:

• Writing for Mass Media
• Reporting for Mass Media I and II
• Capstone-Daily Titan News

Hands-on skills are the backbone of this program

Journalism students have access to the communications facilities and labs, including:

• CTVA Television Studio
• Titan TV Studio
• Speech & Communications Clinic

Graduates of this top journalism school are armed with the ability to “evaluate, interpret and disseminate fact-based information”. They can tell compelling stories via multimedia platforms to various audiences. Recent graduates are working all over the world as:

• anchor/hosts
• editors
• copywriters
• journalists
• producers

Since 1831, New York University has blended an urban identity and a professional focus among its 19 schools and colleges NYU is known as one of the world’s top private research universities.

NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute is “for the curious, the restless investigators, the ones who never stop asking why.” What better place to study journalism than New York City?

NYU’s Bachelor of Arts in journalism degree program provides a well-rounded education. You can choose among tracks to customize your degree. It is taught be practicing journalists.

You choose from the Print/Online track or the Broadcast track. In addition, you are encouraged to choose from over 60 other majors within the Colleges of Arts and Sciences to complement your studies.

You will complete eight core courses, including: 

• Investigative Journalism
• Journalistic Inquiry
• Reporting: Multimedia

The best part of studying at one of the top journalism schools like NYU is the endless opportunities through practical experiences and internships. Publishing prospects like Cooper Squared and Bedford + Bowery are available. So are the 14 study abroad locations. If you wish to continue your education, NYU offers a high-value, online journalism master’s degree program.

The University of Southern California is the leading private research university. USC is ranked #19 among more than 1,000 public and private universities by both The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education. Through USC Annenberg, the School for Communication and Journalism, you will find a Bachelor of Arts in journalism with strong core values and multimedia storytelling skills.

The University of Southern California describes its BA in Journalism degere program as “reimagined,” building on its “record of innovation in journalism education.” You will gain knowledge and skills in:  

• Strong reporting
• Effective writing
• Ethics
• Confidence in Current and Developing Technologies

You will learn from the best journalists in the field through team-taught courses occurring in the Wallis Annenberg Hall and media center. In addition to general education courses, you will complete 44 units for the journalism major, and you may choose to concentrate in areas such as:

• Broadcast and Digital Video Journalism
• Sports Journalism
• Digital, Mobile, and Emerging Technologies

CUNY Lehman College is the City University of New York’s college in the Bronx. It provides dynamic liberal arts and science programs to 14,000+ current students. With more than 90 academic programs, Lehman College is ranked #4 in the “highest mobility rate in the nation” by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Lehman is one of the top journalism schools in the U.S. It offers a well-rounded Bachelor of Arts.

The journalism major requires 24 credits of core classes and 42-43 credits in one of two concentrations: Journalism or Multilingual Media. The multilingual media track requires that you demonstrate proficiency in a non-English language and choose two of the three options to focus on:

• Translation
• Advanced Writing
• Phonetics and Diction

Among the required journalism degree courses is:

• Introduction to Multilingual Media
• Reporting I and II
• Multimedia Editing and Proofreading

In addition, you also complete 3-4 credits of capstone projects. Internships are available and recommended to gain real-life experience. Lehman offers direction for graduates through job boards and employment websites.

Part of the California State University system, CSU Dominguez Hills is a highly diverse cy ollege. It provides “affordable, high-quality, and transformative education.” CSUDH is currently ranked #4 among all California’s colleges in the Equality Opportunity Project’s report’s Overall Mobility index. Here, you can earn a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.

This 120-credit journalism program includes 45-48 credits in Communication courses and both a capstone project and an internship. Sample courses include:

• Writing for the Media
• Cross-Cultural Journalism
• News Gathering and Reporting

You will choose from dynamic elective courses that match your interests, such as:

• Broadcast
• Sports
• Entertainment Journalism

The journalism program meets the values of the Accrediting Council on Education Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). Career options are countless, and CSUDH reports that graduates “compete for journalism careers regionally, nationally, and globally.”  Graduates find employment in fields like:

• Reporting
• Editing
• Feature writing
• Broadcasting
• Directing
• Podcasting
• Media managing

Check out this video from the Journalism Department to see if CSUDH is for you.

George Washington University is located in the nation’s capital. It is the alma mater to famous alumni like CNN’s chief political correspondent, Dana Bash. The Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communication is offered through GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA). This is located on the university’s Foggy Bottom Campus. GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs is one of the best schools for journalism in the nation.

The journalism and mass communication bachelor’s degree teaches you how to report and write for multimedia platforms. Courses include:

• Database and Multi-Platform Reporting
• Investigative Journalism
• Research

A strong emphasis is placed on how journalism and media influence civics and politics. Specific courses include:

• Advanced News Reporting
• Media Law
• Journalism Ethics

One thing is for sure:  GW’s journalism students are successful. Take it from a 2019 alumni who writes, “I never thought in a million years that my name would be on the front page of The Washington Post, especially while I am still an undergraduate.”

GW currently has nearly 10,000 undergraduate students from all over the globe. If you would like to join this dynamic community, check out the admission details here.

The comprehensive research academic institution, Northwestern University, is one of four top US universities that is also ranked in the top 20 in five graduate education categories. Among many famous alumni include:

• Writer, Producer and Comedian Stephen Colbert
• Best-selling Author Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl, anyone?)
• Emmy nominated TV and Film Writer/Producer Greg Berlanti

The Bachelor of Science in journalism at Northwestern University is perfect for students who want to research, report, and produce “journalism that matters.”

Northwestern University states that “reporting and writing are just the start” of its journalism degree. The bigger focus is experimentation with “emerging media, exploring global journalism…and not only working to change media but to lead it.” Core classes teach you to report, write, edit and think critically. Expect to take courses such as:

• Philosophy of Modern Journalism
• Podcasting
• Multimedia Storytelling

In addition, Northwestern University journalism students will choose a concentration outside of journalism like:

• Political science
• Economics
• Foreign language
• History

This allows the interconnectedness that journalism embraces. Oh yeah, and we can’t forget to add the study abroad opportunities, both semester-long and short term. You could be studying from South Africa, Israel, Panama, or London!

Syracue University is recognized as a “student-focused, global research university” known for “academic rigor, richly diverse learning experiences, and a spirit of discovery”. SU holds a rich history of innovation and opportunity.

Syracuse’s Newhouse School of Public Communications is among the best journalism schools to earn a Bachelor of Science in broadcast and digital journalism.

As a broadcast and digital journalism student, you will learn by doing, and really, what better way to learn? Through hands-on courses and internships, you will jump right into the life of a journalist. Sample courses include:

•  Broadcast and Digital News Writing
•  Radio and Digital Audio News Reporting
•  Videography for Broadcast Journalism

As a journalism student at Syracuse, you will learn from the best professional journalists out there. You will be a part of organizations such as NCC News, the student-run source that covers everything from breaking news to weather in Central New York. Famous Syracuse journalism alumni include:

• NBC Sportscaster Bob Costas
• CBS Co-Host Jeff Glor
• Executive Producer of the Late Night Stephen Colbert Show, Chris Licht

A leading private research university, Boston University is no small operation with its 34,000+ students from over 130 countries. BU spans over 17 colleges and schools. It offers more than 300 academic programs, including a Bachelor of Science in journalism.

This BS combines a strong liberal arts background with pre-professional training in five distinct focus areas.

As a journalism student at Boston University, you will study the following areas:

• Online Journalism
• Broadcast Journalism
• Magazine Journalism
• Photojournalism

You will complete 128 credit hours in core, journalism, and elective courses. Sample courses include:

• Reporting in Depth
• Visual Storytelling
• Editorial Design
• Media Criticism

You will also be a part of the Boston University Nationally recognized, student-run BU News Service.

BU emphasizes “COM” which, of course, is short for “communication” but also “community.” You will be part of a diverse, vibrant group of journalism students and faculty who are award-winning journalists. If you think you belong at one of the best journalism schools like BU, check out the application and admission details and take the next step.

Stanford University has been open since 1891. Its history runs rich and deep. Stanford holds intrigue and character. For example:

• its medical school opened in 1908
• the stolen axe trophy mystery
• the World Series victory in 1987

Today, Stanford is a leading private research university with one of the best journalism schools in the country. You can earn a Bachelor of Arts in communication with four pathways:

• Digital media studies
• Media psychology
• Journalism
• Political communication

Stanford University knows stories, and as a student at one of the top journalism schools, you will learn all about:

• Turning data into stories
• Beat reporting
• Source building
• Using multimedia tools to tell a story

Sample courses include:

• Reporting, Writing, and Understanding the News
• Journalism Law
• The Rise of Digital Culture

Additionally, research projects and internships are available to solidify your skills.

Stanford’s journalism program serves as “a launchpad to newsrooms across the globe.” Alumni are working for media organizations like:

• New York Times
• The Washington Post
• Google News

Also, check out the Master’s in Journalism from Stanford.

Northeastern University is a private research institution in Boston. NU believes in experience-powered learning and provides experiential learning opportunities. Among the 90 majors NU offers is a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism that can lead you into careers like:

• Reporting
• Public Relations
• Web Producing
• Multimedia Specialty

In this 129-credit program, you will learn vital journalism skills like:

• Writing
• Reporting
• Research
• Critical Thinking
• Visual Storytelling
• Digital Skills

Co-op opportunities include:

• Boston Globe
• Reebok
• New Balance
• NBC Universal Television

NU alumni work in top newsrooms and public relations departments around the world. Admission to NU is selective, and the university is looking for candidates who bring “diverse experiences, perspectives, and interests” to the community. Each candidate is evaluated on a holistic level. If you’re interested in one of the best colleges for journalists, check out additional admission details here.