2023 Best Value Colleges for Journalism (With Aid)
236
Ranked Colleges
13,552
Degrees Awarded
$12,300
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Journalism is the 69th most popular major in the country with 13,552 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, journalism graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $32,953 and had an average of $23,734 in loans still to pay off.
For this year’s “Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 236 colleges that offer a degree in journalism. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent journalism programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the journalism program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank 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 Those Getting Aid”.
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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for journalism students with aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Journalism (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Baruch College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid. Baruch is located in New York, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 39 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Baruch College is $2,264 for Journalism students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Journalism at Baruch
Out of the 236 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #2 spot on the list. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 209 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It costs about $17,234 for Journalism students with aid per year to attend UW - Madison.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UW - Madison Journalism Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid. Located in Gainesville, Florida, this large public school handed out 123 diplomas to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, UF also did well on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $5,135 for Journalism students with aid per year to attend University of Florida.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.
Full University of Florida Journalism Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid list. IU Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 123 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $14,619 for journalism students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Full Indiana University - Bloomington Journalism Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid. UW Seattle is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 39 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
UW Seattle also claimed a top spot on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $12,017 for journalism students with aid per year to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Journalism at University of Washington - Seattle Campus
The University of Texas at Austin came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. UT Austin is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 181 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
UT Austin also made our “Best Journalism Schools” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Austin is $18,350 for journalism students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Journalism at UT Austin
Austin Community College District did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Austin Community College District is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Austin Community College District is $7,224 for journalism students with aid.
Read full report on Journalism at Austin Community College District
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 258 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Journalism Schools” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $17,878 for Journalism students with aid per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.
Read full report on Journalism at UMN Twin Cities
University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Mizzou is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 488 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $16,559 for Journalism students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 more about Journalism at Mizzou
With a ranking of #10, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Fresno State is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 85 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Fresno is $6,230 for journalism students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 Journalism at California State University - Fresno
Brooklyn College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Brooklyn, New York, and it awarded 32 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Brooklyn College is $3,067 for journalism students with aid.
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 Journalism at Brooklyn College
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 53 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC also made our “Best Journalism Schools” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $14,321 for Journalism students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Journalism at UIUC
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $12,469 for Journalism students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Journalism at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Maryland - College Park came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. UMCP is located in College Park, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 145 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
UMCP also took the #8 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Maryland - College Park is $18,048 for journalism students with aid.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Journalism at UMCP
California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. California State University - Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 109 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $10,054 for journalism students with aid per year to attend California State University - Long Beach.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Journalism at CSULB
University of Iowa landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school handed out 170 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools” ranking. It costs about $19,401 for journalism students with aid per year to attend University of Iowa.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 Journalism at Iowa
West Virginia University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Morgantown, West Virginia, this large public school awarded 176 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, WVU also did well on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $13,355 for journalism students with aid per year to attend WVU.
Full West Virginia University Journalism Report
Arizona State University - Tempe came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. ASU - Tempe is a large public school situated in Tempe, Arizona. It awarded 236 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
ASU - Tempe excels when it comes to journalism quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for ASU - Tempe is $13,107 for journalism students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Journalism at ASU - Tempe
University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,346 for Journalism students with aid per year to attend USF Tampa.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Journalism at University of South Florida - Main Campus
Brigham Young University - Provo came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Brigham Young University - Provo is a private not-for-profit institution located in Provo, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 64 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, BYU is in the top on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $13,474 for journalism students with aid per year to attend Brigham Young University - Provo.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Journalism at BYU
University of North Texas came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. UNT is a large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 299 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UNT is also in the top of our “Best Journalism Schools” ranking. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $14,122 for journalism students with aid per year to attend UNT.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of North Texas Journalism Report
San Diego State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. SDSU is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 170 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
SDSU excels when it comes to journalism quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It costs about $13,845 for Journalism students with aid per year to attend San Diego State University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Journalism at San Diego State University
University of Georgia landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. UGA is a large school located in Athens, Georgia that handed out 181 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
UGA also claimed a top spot on our “Best Journalism Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend UGA is $14,257 for Journalism students with aid.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Journalism at UGA
With a ranking of #24, Northern Kentucky University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky, and it awarded 50 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Northern Kentucky University is $9,183 for Journalism students with aid.
Read more about Journalism at Northern Kentucky University
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 42 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for IUPUI is $12,416 for Journalism students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Journalism at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
