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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Journalism (With Aid)

52 Ranked Colleges
917 Degrees Awarded
$24,800 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master's For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 12,336 people earned their degree in general journalism, making the major the 58th most popular in the United States.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 917 general journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 52 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general journalism. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general journalism programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general journalism program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank General Journalism Schools

The journalism school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Journalism (With Aid)

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 13 masters’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also made our “Best General Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #6. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison General Journalism Report

Out of the 52 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in San Juan, , and it awarded 6 masters’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UPR Rio Piedras are $3,620, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Journalism at UPR Rio Piedras

#11 in overall quality

Out of the 52 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 5 masters’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also made our “Best General Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Journalism at UIUC

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s journalism degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

USF Tampa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best General Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at USF Tampa are $21,126, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full USF Tampa General Journalism Report

#5

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 52 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school awarded 37 diplomas to qualified masters’s journalism students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best General Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Iowa are $27,613.

Read more about General Journalism at University of Iowa

#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of Missouri - Columbia is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 73 masters’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

Mizzou also took the #8 spot in our “Best General Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Mizzou are $27,193.

Read more about General Journalism at Mizzou

#19 in overall quality

Iowa State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Iowa State is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 8 masters’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State also made our “Best General Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State are $25,948, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Journalism at Iowa State

#8

West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. WVU is a public institution located in Morgantown, West Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at WVU are $26,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full West Virginia University General Journalism Report

#20 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Austin ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. The University of Texas at Austin is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

UT Austin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best General Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Austin are $22,886, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Journalism at UT Austin

#10

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois

University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s journalism degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIS are $16,757.

Read more about General Journalism at UIS

#11

Marshall University

Huntington, West Virginia

With a ranking of #11, Marshall University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Marshall University is a fairly large school located in Huntington, West Virginia that handed out 5 masters’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Marshall University are $21,162, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Journalism at Marshall University

#12 in overall quality

University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 28 masters’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree journalism students with aid list, UNL has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best General Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nebraska - Lincoln are $19,513, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Journalism at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

#13

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
#13 in overall quality

University of Maryland - College Park ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. College Park, Maryland is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s journalism degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMCP, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best General Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Journalism at UMCP

#14

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#22 in overall quality

University of Arizona landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Tucson, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s journalism degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona also took the #22 spot in our “Best General Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Journalism at University of Arizona

#15

University of Mississippi

University, Mississippi

With a ranking of #15, University of Mississippi did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in University, Mississippi, and it awarded 8 masters’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Mississippi are $25,099, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Mississippi General Journalism Report

University of Nevada - Reno came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Nevada - Reno is a large public school situated in Reno, Nevada. It awarded 8 masters’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nevada - Reno are $21,971, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Journalism at UNR

#17

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Ball State is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 2 masters’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best General Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Journalism at Ball State University

#18

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas

With a ranking of #18, University of North Texas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Denton, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s journalism degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNT are $15,618.

Full UNT General Journalism Report

#19

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Northwestern University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s journalism degrees to 120 students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Northwestern University General Journalism Report

#20

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, Arkansas

University of Arkansas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. This large school is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and it awarded 5 masters’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UARK are $22,121, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Journalism at University of Arkansas

#21

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#18 in overall quality

University of Kansas ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. KU is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree journalism students with aid list, KU has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best General Journalism Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Kansas are $25,007, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Journalism at KU

#22

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee

University of Memphis came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Memphis is located in Memphis, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UofM are $14,202.

Read full report on General Journalism at UofM

#23

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

With a ranking of #23, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 5 masters’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Michigan State General Journalism Report

#24

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Little Rock, Arkansas

University of Arkansas at Little Rock landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Arkansas at Little Rock is a public institution located in Little Rock, Arkansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UA Little Rock are $14,884.

Full University of Arkansas at Little Rock General Journalism Report

#25

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas

With a ranking of #25, Kansas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Manhattan, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s journalism degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Kansas State University are $24,115, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Journalism at K -State

Notes and References

References

  • 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 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Jfurrer.

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