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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Journalism

334 Ranked Colleges
9,235 Degrees Awarded
$29,500 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Journalism Major

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2021-2022, 10,697 people earned their degree in general journalism, making the major the 69th most popular in the United States.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 9,235 general journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,724 and $23,030 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major” ranking looked at 334 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general journalism. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in general journalism.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank General Journalism Schools

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree journalism students.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Journalism

1
Rust College crest
Rust College
Holly Springs, Mississippi

Out of the 334 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Rust College landed the #1 spot on the list. Holly Springs, Mississippi is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s journalism degrees to 17 students in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Rust College General Journalism Report

2
Patrick Henry College crest
Patrick Henry College
Purcellville, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Patrick Henry College. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major. Patrick Henry College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Purcellville, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Journalism at Patrick Henry College

3
Emerson crest
Emerson College
Boston, Massachusetts

Out of the 334 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Emerson College landed the #3 spot on the list. Emerson is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 108 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on General Journalism at Emerson

4
Savannah State University crest
Savannah State University
Savannah, Georgia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Savannah State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major list. Savannah State University is a public institution located in Savannah, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Read more about General Journalism at Savannah State University

5
Sagrado crest
Universidad del Sagrado Corazon
Santurce, Puerto Rico

Out of the 334 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Universidad del Sagrado Corazon landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Santurce, Puerto Rico, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 34 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s journalism students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Journalism at Sagrado

6
Stillman College crest
Stillman College
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Stillman College ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major list. Stillman College is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

Full Stillman College General Journalism Report

7

University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major ranking. University of Missouri - Columbia is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 390 bachelors’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on General Journalism at Mizzou

8
Hampton crest
Hampton University
Hampton, Virginia

Hampton University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major ranking. Located in Hampton, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 64 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s journalism students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about General Journalism at Hampton University

9

Georgia College & State University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major ranking. Georgia College is located in Milledgeville, Georgia and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 83 bachelors’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Journalism at Georgia College & State University

10
University of West Georgia crest
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, Georgia

University of West Georgia landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major ranking. Carrollton, Georgia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s journalism degrees to 111 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of West Georgia General Journalism Report

11
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Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major ranking. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public institution located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 0 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Journalism at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

12
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

With a ranking of #12, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major list. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s journalism degrees to 217 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about General Journalism at KU

13
LU Missouri crest
Lincoln University
Jefferson City, Missouri

Lincoln University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major ranking. Located in Jefferson City, Missouri, this small public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s journalism students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Journalism at Lincoln University

14
Olivet crest
Olivet College
Olivet, Michigan

Olivet College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major ranking. Olivet is a private not-for-profit institution located in Olivet, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Olivet College General Journalism Report

15
Samford crest
Samford University
Birmingham, Alabama

Samford University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major ranking, coming in at #15. This medium-sized school is located in Birmingham, Alabama, and it awarded 39 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about General Journalism at Samford University

16
Purchase College crest
Purchase College
Purchase, New York

With a ranking of #16, Purchase College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major list. Located in Purchase, New York, this small public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s journalism students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Purchase College General Journalism Report

17

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major ranking. University of Oklahoma is located in Norman, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 208 bachelors’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Journalism at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

18
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

With a ranking of #18, West Virginia University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major list. WVU is a large school located in Morgantown, West Virginia that handed out 150 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Journalism at WVU

19
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St. Bonaventure University
Saint Bonaventure, New York

St. Bonaventure University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major ranking. This small school is located in Saint Bonaventure, New York, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full St. Bonaventure University General Journalism Report

20
Flagler St. Augustine crest
Flagler College - St Augustine
Saint Augustine, Florida

Flagler College - St Augustine did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major ranking, coming in at #20. Flagler St. Augustine is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Augustine, Florida. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Flagler College - St Augustine General Journalism Report

21
Columbia crest
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major ranking, coming in at #21. Columbia is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Columbia College Chicago General Journalism Report

22
Franklin College of Indiana crest
Franklin College
Franklin, Indiana

With a ranking of #22, Franklin College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major list. Franklin, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s journalism degrees to 7 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Franklin College of Indiana General Journalism Report

23

University of Nevada - Reno did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major ranking, coming in at #23. UNR is a large public school situated in Reno, Nevada. It awarded 101 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Journalism at University of Nevada - Reno

24
MMC crest
Marymount Manhattan College
New York, New York

Marymount Manhattan College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major ranking, coming in at #24. Marymount Manhattan College is located in New York, New York and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about General Journalism at Marymount Manhattan College

25
Ithaca crest
Ithaca College
Ithaca, New York

Ithaca College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major ranking. Ithaca is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Ithaca, New York. It awarded 31 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Ithaca General Journalism Report

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
28
29
30
Hard Work U crest
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO
31
32
33
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University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
Drury University crest
Drury University
Springfield, MO
43
44
Augustana crest
Augustana College
Rock Island, IL
45
46
Hofstra crest
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY
47
48
49
50
The American University crest
American University
Washington, DC

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Journalism Major

While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
51Quinnipiac UniversityHamden, CT

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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