12 Best US Schools for Future Journalists

• Vishnu Reji
• 19 September, 2024

By: Vishnu Reji

Deciding which school to go to can be a critical part of becoming a journalist, and your future career can be made or broken by the education you get. If your dream is to work for a big news organization, write long-form articles, or dominate the digital media world, a good education is necessary. Fortunately, some of the world’s best journalism programs are in the US. Here’s a rating of 12 of the best schools where you can hone the skills required for a future journalist.

1. Northwestern University – Medill School of Journalism

Northwestern’s journalism program, based in the Medill School of Journalism, is among the best in the US. Medill is particularly well known for preparing students to hit the ground running by combining hard-hitting reporting with state-of-the-art digital storytelling and multimedia skills. Students can take advantage of top journalism internships.

2. University of Missouri – School of Journalism

The University of Missouri is home to the world’s first journalism school. It has a long and proud history of turning students into journalists. Its School of Journalism runs a fully functioning newsroom that produces stories for the Columbia Missourian newspaper, giving students on-the-ground real newsroom experience.

3. Syracuse University – S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications

Syracuse University’s Newhouse School offers a wide breadth of journalism programs, from broadcast to magazine writing and digital media – the goal is to prepare students for the field of their choice. Newhouse allows you to choose your interests and then prepares you to excel. Learners also benefit from partnerships with national media brands, which immediately makes networking and internships possible.

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4. University of Southern California – Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

USC Annenberg in Los Angeles is a good option for those who want to combine traditional journalism with new media. Thanks to its connections in the local movie and television industries, the school is also a good choice for students pursuing entertainment journalism. Its master’s programs in journalism emphasize digital journalism and multimedia storytelling. 

5. New York University – Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute

NYU’s journalism program is housed on the Manhattan campus, at the epicenter of one of the world’s greatest metropolitan news capitals. Aside from the obvious perks of working in Lower Manhattan and all its networking potential, there are also internships and special guest speakers who turn out with such regularity. The intense journalism immersion the program can bestow, from top-tier courses in investigative reporting to specialized writing tracks in business, science, and cultural reporting.

6. University of California, Berkeley – Graduate School of Journalism

UC Berkeley is widely considered the country’s best journalism program for reporting and documentary filmmaking. The program is small and highly competitive, with few admissions, but it is very focused. Students receive lots of individual attention from faculty and get lots of instruction on the nuances of the field. If you are interested in socially conscious reporting, including reporting on immigration, social justice, politics, the environment, and other areas, then Berkeley is a good choice for you.

7. Columbia University – Graduate School of Journalism

Established in 1912, the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in New York is one of the most famous programs in the world. Indeed, Columbia runs specialized programs in investigative journalism, data journalism, and broadcast journalism and has supplied the United States with many Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists over the years. Whatever aspects of journalism a person wishes to specialize in, it remains an excellent place to get started.

8. University of Florida – College of Journalism and Communications

If journalism interests you, you might want to check out the University of Florida, which runs a well-functioning journalism school. The school trains students for both old and new media careers and provides them with facilities for working in print, radio, TV, and online. Aspiring journalists interested in covering issues in the public interest might also consider UF, as it focuses on this topic.

9. Emerson College – School of Communication

Emerson College is full of people talking about speaking, so it’s a good fit for students who want to be journalists with an edgy or creative bent. Emerson students gain experience working with professional news organizations in the Boston area campus-run news outlets, including a student-run television station and radio station.

10. American University – School of Communication

American University’s School of Communication in Washington, DC, is an excellent choice for those interested in becoming political journalists. Because it’s located in the nation’s capital, students can cover politics and government as it happens. The school has a focus on investigative journalism and multimedia reporting.

11. Boston University – College of Communication

Boston University’s College of Communication has a strong, reportedly balanced journalism program emphasizing traditional, established journalism skills while embracing new media technologies. The university has a long history of mandatory journalism internships and has additional on-campus news outlets. The journalism program at BU has a particular focus on international reporting.

12. Arizona State University – Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University is a prestigious journalism program and one of the top such programs in the country. Situated in a large, cutting-edge building that houses an actual newsroom and related offices, the Cronkite School offers students many opportunities to immerse themselves in real work in this fast-shifting media landscape. Digital innovation is the underlying motto of the program. 

Choose Your Path, Build Your Future

Picking the right journalism school can mean the difference between a successful career and a struggle to get your foot in the door. If you’re aiming to be an investigative reporter, a broadcast journalist, or a digital media journalist, these 12 schools with outstanding programs will help put you on the path to success.