Top 7 Best Master’s Programs in Journalism

Do you have a bachelor’s in journalism or another writing degree? Perhaps upon graduation, you scored an entry-level research position for a newspaper or a writing gig for a local magazine. But master’s programs in journalism open fabulous doors in the journalism world. Graduate journalism programs help you score high-up careers in the news and media field.

Communications manager? News producer? Managing editor? The best journalism graduate schools prepare you for renowned and lucrative careers like these and beyond.

But where there’s variety, there’s also mediocrity. Not every grad school has renowned master’s in journalism programs — they’re not all worth it. Don’t worry; we’ve done the heavy lifting for you and gathered the crème de la crème for your reference.

Our list of the best US journalism graduate schools with fantastic master’s journalism programs are:

• UC Berkeley Master of Journalism
• The CUNY Graduate School of Journalism
• Emerson College
• Columbia Journalism School
• Medill School of Journalism – Northwestern University
• New York University Carter Journalism Institute
• Stanford University

Let’s dive in and help you choose the best grad schools for journalism.

Best Master’s Programs in Journalism: Comparison

Here’s a comparison chart of the top journalism graduate schools:

Program	Cost	Notable Specialties	Location	Format
UC Berkeley Master of Journalism	$14,661 for residents; $20,783.50 for non-residents.	Investigative journalism	121 North Gate Hall, Berkeley, CA 94708, United States	In-person
The CUNY Graduate School of Journalism	$18,609.35 for residents; $36,0000-$38,000 for non-residents, with a higher price for the engagement journalism program	Engagement journalism program	219 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018, United States	In-person
Emerson College	$1,349 per credit	Audio, photo, video journalism	120 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116	Hybrid
Columbia Journalism School	$81,482	Data journalism specialization	Pulitzer Hall, 2950 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, United States	In-person
Medill School of Journalism – Northwestern University	$69,932	Social justice, health, economics, innovation, sports media	1845 Sheridan Road Evanston, IL 60208-2101	In-person with multiple satellite locations
New York University Carter Journalism Institute	$52,480	Cultural double majors; i.e., Journalism + Slavic Studies degree	20 Cooper Square, 6th Floor New York, NY 10003	Online and in-person
Stanford University	$36,720 – $56,487	Multimedia software	450 Jane Stanford Way Stanford, CA 94305 United States Stanford University	Online and in-person

1. UC Berkeley Master of Journalism

UC Berkeley is a top-tier journalism school in the USA, located near Silicon Valley. With a long history of excellence, the UC Berkeley Master of Journalism program is ideal for students interested in the media industry.

Its two-year course runs in small groups to ensure complete attention to everyone’s progress. In addition, Berkeley journalism students learn industry secrets of storytelling, photojournalism & investigative journalism.

UC Berkeley also has a rich alumni legacy, like the renowned filmmaker Sam Green.

• Tuition & costs: $14,661 for residents; $20,783.50 for non-residents.

• Address: 121 North Gate Hall, Berkeley, CA 94708, United States
• Graduation rate: 91.6%
• Format: (in-person, online, hybrid, or both): In-Person

2. The CUNY Graduate School of Journalism

The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York (CUNY) offers renowned journalism programs for undergraduate and graduate students. This school focuses on giving opportunities to diverse groups of ambitious future journalists, but a summer internship program is required for graduation.

The 16-month MA in Journalism degree aims to build students’ crafts in writing, editing, reporting, ethics, and laws. CUNY’s Engagement Journalism program is particularly notable — the specialization focuses on using journalism to strengthen communication with communities. Of course, the program still helps students hone and tone their design thinking and product development skills.

Finally, CUNY has a Bilingual Journalism Program for Spanish-speaking students. It encourages and guides them to use their bilingual skills in the reporting world.

• Tuition & Fees: $18,609.35 for residents; $36,0000-$38,000 for non-residents, with a higher price for the engagement journalism program
• Address: 219 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018, United States
• Graduation rate: 84%
• Format: (in-person, online, hybrid, or both): In-Person

3. Emerson College

You can study Emerson College’s MA in Journalism full-time for 13 months or part-time for two years.

This program adopts a hands-on approach involving active research in the real world. Professors specializing in audio, photo, and videography will guide you in conducting interviews. By the end, you will be an expert at collecting data and translating it into compelling stories.

Emerson College’s on-campus facilities include a modern newsroom and media production space. These provisions allow students to engage with their projects like professionals in the industry.

They boast a faculty of prominent professors from iconic media houses like CNN & The Washington Post. What better way to learn than from the best? It’s also one of the few colleges offering a hybrid format.

• Tuition: $1,349 per credit
• Address: 120 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
• Graduation rate: 78.3%
• Format: (in-person, online, hybrid, or both): Hybrid

4. Columbia Journalism School

Columbia has three options for master’s journalism programs: Master of Arts, Master of Science, and Master of Science in Data.

The MA program features journalism courses in politics, science, arts & culture, and business, best for professionals with at least three years of experience. On the other hand, the MS program is more beginner-friendly, catering to students who prefer field work to theory. Finally, the data master’s program pivots to information collection and analysis in journalism.

• Tuition: $81,482

• Address: Pulitzer Hall, 2950 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, United States
• Graduation rate: 94.6%
• Format: (in-person, online, hybrid, or both): In-Person

5. Medill School of Journalism – Northwestern University

Evanston, Chicago, is home to Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. In addition, the university has multiple campuses located throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.

Medill School’s Master of Science is a one-year STEM-designated program that allows students to specialize in any of these areas:

• Business, Economics, and Money
• Politics, Policy, And Foreign Affairs
• Health, Environment, And Science
• Media Innovation And Content Strategy
• Social Justice & Investigative Programs
• Sports Media
• Video and Broadcast

What sets this master’s degree in journalism apart from its peers is its exclusive “Medill Explores” program. Joining Medill Explores allows students to participate in numerous one-week learning and reporting trips both domestically and internationally.

Graduates from Medill hold high-ranking positions in established companies. George R.R Martin (Author of Game of Thrones) and Gillian Flynn are famous Medill School of Journalism alumni.

Here’s what one happy alum had to say about Northwestern’s journalism program:

“I was fortunate that many places I’ve applied to have had many great, hard-working Medill graduates. Several of my bosses have been Medill graduates, although that didn’t mean I had it easier than other co-workers. Before applying to any job, you should use any network you have to research the position, the company culture, and the expectations of the job. The Medill network usually steps up.”

– Pradnya Joshi (National Weekend Editor)

• Tuition: $69,932

• Address: 1845 Sheridan Road Evanston, IL 60208-2101
• Graduation rate: 91.6%
• Format: (in-person, online, hybrid, or both): In-Person with satellite campuses in Chicago, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Doha, Qatar.

6. New York University Carter Journalism Institute

New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute strives to equip students with expertise in journalism informed by resilient information hunting. Students learn how to break down information and put together accurate journalistic reports.

NYU’s master’s degree in journalism is at the forefront of creating competent journalists.

About 94% of graduates land high-paying jobs, internships, fellowships, or freelance work post-graduation.

Candidates at NYU are free to pick from one of the eight subjects offered. A few popular ones are:

• Business and Economic Reporting
• Cultural Reporting and Criticism
• News and Documentary
• Magazine and Digital Storytelling

PS — students can merge interest areas with attractive double-major options. For example, you can graduate with an MA in Journalism and Slavic Studies, International Relations, or East Asian Studies.

• Tuition:  $52,480

• Address: 20 Cooper Square, 6th Floor New York, NY 10003
• Graduation rate: 85.1%
• Format: (in-person, online, hybrid, or both): Online Master Program, Traditional Courses

7. Stanford University

Stanford University — a name synonymous with excellence — runs a one-year all-encompassing MA in Journalism program. Special attention is given to storytelling and data-driven journalism, but competition is fierce. As a result, only 15 students achieve admission into this prestigious program each year.

Besides encouraging out-of-the-box thinking, Stanford teaches multimedia software and programs, covering topics like:

• Python
• SQL
• Hindenburg Audio Editing
• GitHub
• Adobe Photoshop
• HTML, CSS, and Javascript
• WordPress CMS
• Social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

These skills, coupled with on-the-field projects, teach future journalists to thrive. Candidates learn to ask the right questions, dismantle data and transmit meaningful stories.

Here’s how one student described the program:

“I got to go a lot deeper with the stories I did here because I was able to use multimedia and data, in addition to the skills I had before. Those additional tools help you become a better storyteller.”

– Farida Jhabvala Romero, MA ’15, KQED

• Tuition: $36,720 – $56,487
• Address: 450 Jane Stanford Way Stanford, CA 94305 United States Stanford University
• Graduation rate: 85.1%
• Format: (in-person, online, hybrid, or both): Online Master Program, Traditional Courses

Why Get a Journalism Master’s Degree?

The exact reason to get any master’s degree is to excel in skill and opportunities. If you want to pursue higher positions at news outlets or management roles at media organizations, a master’s degree is imperative.

Completing your master’s at a reputable institute almost always guarantees networking opportunities. These interactions translate into job offers, paid work, and lifelong mentors.

The most prominent media houses need employees to have internship experience, and internships from certain master’s programs are worthy resume-boosting experiences.

What are the Admission Requirements for Master’s Journalism Programs?

Most journalism master’s programs prefer you to have a bachelor’s in journalism or a related field like literature. Additionally, you’ll need an impressive resume documenting experience in a role related to journalism — perhaps a stint at your local college newspaper, or a summer job at a news publication.

How Important Is Accreditation for Masters Programs in Journalism?

Accreditation is essential for all established educational institutions. Although voluntary (no law requires educational institutions to seek it), it indicates excellence. Accreditation means the school has met specific benchmarks.

For journalism master’s programs, accreditation is crucial. News outlets and media houses rarely hire graduates from universities that aren’t accredited.

The master’s in journalism is overseen and accredited by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). Founded in 1912, this global association has been accrediting programs in the field of journalism since 1945.

AEJMC decides whether or not to give accreditation to educational institutions based on many factors. Two notable factors are Administration and Curriculum.

How Much Does a Journalism Master’s Degree Cost?

The cost of a journalism master’s degree depends on your chosen program and the school that offers it. Public institutions charge an average tuition of around $15,000 per year.

Private and world-renowned schools charge steep fees, thanks to the desired name attached to the program.

Online and hybrid courses are cheaper than in-person programs when it comes to room and board. However, some students may feel isolated without in-person classmate interaction.

It’s important to note that these numbers do not include room and board or books. These can add as much as another 20% to your total cost of attendance at many universities.

Jobs and Salaries for Journalism Master’s Graduates

Journalism master’s graduates can find employment in a variety of fields, including:

• Print media
• Radio and television broadcasting
• Public relations and advertising
• Marketing and public affairs firms

Here are some careers options with respective salaries you could pursue with a master’s in journalism:

1. Journalists & Reporters ($48,370)

A journalist conducts in-depth, accurate research to print news articles in magazines and newspapers. Nowadays, the work also involves reporting on content for online news sites. Moreover, journalists must collate and broadcast time-sensitive stories on radio and news channels.

2.  Editors ($76,400)

Editors are responsible for overviewing, refining, and correcting work done by journalists and writers under them. They give news pieces a final green light before the public can view them. Having a keen understanding of the audience and a firm grasp of brand guidelines are the key skills of an efficient editor.

While there are editors in many careers, with a master’s in journalism, your role would likely involve written or video media.

3. Communications/ PR Manager ($119,860)

The Communications Manager typically handles business operations such as sales and marketing. They may also be in charge of finance-related tasks such as budgeting revenue streams for media. In addition, their responsibilities include launching strategies to uphold an outstanding image of the company.

In a large organization, the communications manager holds a senior role, leading a team of junior managers under them.

How to Pick the Best Journalism Master’s For You?

If you’re considering a master’s degree in journalism, understand why. What’s drawing you to this line of work? Which subsets are you particularly interested in? This awareness will help you determine whether the program is the best journalism grad school for you.

Some questions to ask yourself:

• Are there specific areas where you want/need more training?
• How does this program fit into your long-term career goals?
• What opportunities might it lead me toward after graduation (internships and jobs)?
• Is there a financial restriction to keep in mind before shortlisting a program?

After answering these questions, you’ll better understand which college is the right fit for you.

Follow these tips to find the best journalism master’s program for you:

• Make sure that the school you choose has notable faculty members who write for newspapers or magazines. This way, you will receive practical, relevant advice on how to navigate the journalism world.
• Inquire about internship opportunities. Internships give students an idea of what life will be like once they graduate from their school program.
• Find out about other types of support available such as counseling services and exchange programs.
• Inquire about scholarships offered by alumni groups and the institution. Every so often, these organizations provide generous funding!

Conclusion

Don’t get overwhelmed by your many options for master’s programs in journalism.

The best graduate schools for journalism listed above are all incredible choices that will help you accomplish your career goals.

Enjoy the process of finding an extraordinary institution — you’ll soon gain strong skills to weave stories, communicate value, and even change the world.

Curious about similar career paths and programs? Explore a master’s in English degree!