5 Best Bachelor’s Degrees in Journalism

Updated on June 30, 2021

Bachelor's Degrees in Journalism

In an age of so-called "fake news," good journalism is needed now more than ever. A central plank of American Democracy is a free press whose responsibility is to inform society about public events and issues so that people can make informed decisions. To pursue one of the 5 Best Bachelor's Degrees in Journalism, then, is to seek a body of knowledge linked to public trust. If that's too dramatic for you, then just remember how the heart of what a journalist does is to tell stories—— which is why there are many possible doors that a journalism major can open for you.

Careers for students who pursue a journalism major may vary. Aside from the traditional journalism positions, they can also include career titles such as corporate communications specialist, an occupation used to inform employees of internal company policies and events. Students who major in journalism could also become: copywriters, editors, and grant writers; or even work as a public relations specialist, sports information director, a technical writer, or a social media specialist. Journalists have also found successful careers in law, business, web production, and filmmaking.

The job outlook for more traditional forms of journalism is shrinking. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for reporters are expected to decline by around nine percent over the next seven years. This is in large measure due to new technologies displacing older methods of newsgathering and dissemination. However, the new forms of technology will also open new avenues for enterprising individuals who still believe that a free press is essential for a democracy to work.

Methodology

Best College Reviews provides degree rankings, such as the 5 Best Bachelor Degrees in Journalism 2020, from carefully researched data sets published from government and nonprofit organizations across the United States. Five primary factors affect how we rank degrees:

  • 25% Student Satisfaction

  • 30% Earning Potential

  • 15% Retention Data

  • 20% Affordability

  • 10% Acceptance Rates

For an in-depth breakdown of how we calculate each ranking, check out ourMethodology page.

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