Creating, gathering, and publishing news is very educational and interesting. Though you may have good writing skills, distributing the news accurately still requires some level of formal training.
Because of this, we have compiled a list of some of the best journalism graduate schools in the world that can meet your needs.
Journalism is a form of communication that differs from other forms. It is distinct because it’s a one-way message, or story, from the journalist to the audience.
The journalist acts as a channel, narrating an objective story about something that happened or is happening based on his or her observations and discoveries. Proper dissemination of the journalist’s information depends on his or her level of expertise.
This is why studying journalism in any of these schools gives you an edge over others. These graduate schools train their students to be outstanding journalists and place them at the forefront of the labour market.
This article will show you some of the top journalism graduate schools and what they offer. Grab a cup of coffee if you can, and continue reading. But before that, here’s a table to help you read better.
Table of contents
- What Is Journalism?
- Why Should I Attend Journalism Graduate School?
- How Much Does A Journalism Graduate Earn?
- How Long Will It Take To Get A Journalism Graduate Degree?
- What Is The Cost of Tuition In Graduate School?
- What Are The Requirements For Journalism Graduate School?
- Best Graduate Journalism Schools
- #1. University of Amsterdam
- #2. The London School of Economics and Political Science – LSE
- #3. University of Southern California- USC
- #4. The University of Texas at Austin
- #5. Stanford University
- #6. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU)
- #7. New York University
- #8. National University of Singapore (NUS)
- #10. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
- FAQs on the Best Graduate Schools for Journalism
- Conclusion
- Recommendation
- References
What Is Journalism?
Journalism is simply creating, gathering, and presenting news and information. It can come in articles, posts, videos, and even tweets. History reveals that the more democratic a society is, the more news and information it tends to have.
Journalism increased in the 18th century with the boost of literacy and political interest. The first piece of modern journalism was published in 1703 by Daniel Dafoe, showing the Great Storm of 1703 in Britain.
Afterwards, newspapers and gazettes filled the streets, which taught people about the events happening around them. This unique act of storytelling comes from reporting, conveying the story’s facts.
Thomson Reuters Foundation African Journalism Program
Why Should I Attend Journalism Graduate School?
A Journalism graduate degree awarded at the graduate school aims to produce adaptable journalists prepared for the 21st-century media. This is because engaging and vibrant societies depend on open, critical, and entertaining news media.
Graduate journalism programs also help journalists have a high standard of critical thinking, curiosity, and inquisitiveness. This will enable them to ask the right questions and be conscious of the role of journalism and its broader ethical and social obligations.
Furthermore, if you’re looking for a certain promotion, studying in any of the best journalism graduate schools can be a good way to move beyond that barrier.
You’ll learn about best practices in the field and gain more experience in everything from project management to research and writing. These skills, in turn, help you earn more.
How Much Does A Journalism Graduate Earn?
According to BLS, reporters and correspondents earn an average of $41,260, while broadcast news analysts earn $66,880. However, journalists’ salaries depend on location, experience, education, media house, and specialization.
Large news organizations pay higher salaries than small-town weekly publications. The District of Columbia, New York, California, Arizona, and New Jersey are places where reporters and correspondents are paid the highest.
How Long Will It Take To Get A Journalism Graduate Degree?
The average duration of graduate programs is between 1 and 2 years for regular students. However, it solely depends on the school you study at.
Most journalism graduate programs will require you to complete some form of the original research project.
Afterwards, you learn how to develop a research question, investigate that question by collecting relevant data, and articulate your findings. You’ll have the chance to work one-on-one with an advising faculty member.
Before the degree is awarded, you will complete a thesis as requested by the school. To do this, you must learn how to write for specialists and lay audiences. The writing skills you’ll acquire here are very relevant for a career in journalism too.
On the other hand, if you are not a regular student, you can expect to get your graduate degree between 3 to 4 years.
What Is The Cost of Tuition In Graduate School?
Journalism graduate school tuition varies widely by program and school involved. However, we estimate average graduate school tuition to be $30,000 at a public university and $40,000 at a private university.
On the contrary, if you don’t have the required finances for tuition, you can leverage scholarships. There are a lot of sponsoring bodies offering scholarships to smart students.
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What Are The Requirements For Journalism Graduate School?
To successfully enrol in one of the top journalism graduate schools, there are some criteria you have to meet. Here are the requirements for graduate journalism schools.
- Proof of a bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related subject like English
- Official school transcripts
- Letter of recommendation
- A minimum GPA between 2.5 and 3.0
- A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score
These are the basic requirements for graduate journalism schools. Other requirements, however, depend on the school of choice.
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Best Graduate Journalism Schools
Studying in any of these top journalism graduate schools launches your career to the next level. Most programs allow you to specialize in a subject area or media format- like magazines, news, digital journalism, etc.
To effectively rank these schools, we considered the following ranking factors; acceptance rate, academic reputation, graduation rate, student-teacher ratio, and tuition.
Here are some of the best graduate journalism schools in the world.
- University of Amsterdam
- The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
- University of Southern California- USC
- The University of Texas at Austin
- Stanford University
- Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU)
- New York University
- National University of Singapore (NUS)
- Columbia University
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
#1. University of Amsterdam
Acceptance rate: 4%
Ranking: Program rank- #1, QS world rank-#61
School Type: Public University
The University of Amsterdam is one of Europe’s prominent research-led universities. Its graduate program in Journalism and Media studies offers a comprehensive and critical approach to new media research, practices, and theory using a variety of teaching formats.
Being the largest university in the Netherlands, this graduate journalism school offers two graduate degree options.
- Journalism, Media, and Globalisation- Joint degree (Masters degree)
- Media Studies- (Master’s degree)
To learn more about these journalism graduate program options, visit the school’s official website below.
#2. The London School of Economics and Political Science – LSE
Acceptance rate: 25%
Ranking: Program rank- #3, QS World Ranking-#49
School Type: Public
The Department of Media and Communications in the LSE is a world-leading centre for education and research in communication and media studies in the heart of central London.
It aims to prepare students for doctoral or professional research in the media and communications field.
This top journalism graduate school offers two graduate degrees in different aspects of Journalism- a Masters’s degree and a Doctorate. They also provide a short course on International Journalism.
To learn more about the programs offered, click the link below.
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#3. University of Southern California- USC
Acceptance rate: 18%
Ranking: Program rank- #2, QS World Ranking-#121
School Type: Private
The USC School of Journalism offers a transformational educational experience that encourages students to think critically, write effectively, and master the new and emerging technologies required for creative and compelling 21st-century journalism.
The University of Southern California offers three journalism graduate degree options to raise students with professional journalism skills.
- Master of Science- Journalism
- Specialized Journalism- Master of Arts
- Master of Arts- Arts Specialized Journalism
If you want to know more about the journalism graduate degree options and how to apply, click the link below.
#4. The University of Texas at Austin
Acceptance rate: 38.5%
Ranking: Program rank-5, QS World Ranking-#71
School Type: Public
The School of Journalism and Media at The University of Texas provides graduate programs with a good blend of courses and research experiences for people who want to advance their education in the ever-changing field of journalism.
This top graduate school for journalism offers two graduate degrees
- Master of Arts in Journalism
- Doctorate In Journalism
These graduate degrees offer opportunities to obtain training and better understand the media systems and content that substantially impact society.
To learn more about the programs, click the link below.
#5. Stanford University
Acceptance rate: 4.8%
Ranking: Program rank-#4, QS World Ranking-#2
School Type: Private
With over 125 years of experience, The Stanford University Department of Journalism is passionate about storytelling and data, which has led them to empower students to produce multimedia, data-intensive work influenced by design thinking.
Their quest for excellence leads them to offer high-class journalism education at the Master’s level. This Master’s program allows the students to learn several software programs like python, and Jekyll, to name a few.
If you would like to know more about the graduate program at Stanford University and how to apply, use the link below.
#6. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU)
Acceptance rate: 35%
Ranking: Program rank- #7, QS World Ranking-#13
School Type: Public
The Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) is one of the fast-growing journalism schools in Asia. This top journalist graduate school has become a premier research institution that generates empirical and humanistic analyses of communication topics.
To continue to meet the demand in Singapore and the region for well-trained personnel in the media industry and information services, WKWSCI offers a Master’s degree in Media and Communications.
To learn more about the program and its application, visit the school’s website through the link below.
#7. New York University
Acceptance rate: 15%
Ranking: Program rank- #10, QS World Ranking-#35
School Type: Private
New York University Journalism Institute has become a leader in developing advanced forms of journalism education. Most journalism programs use a traditional outline that teaches skills specifically for one medium of communication – newspaper, magazine, digital or new media, and broadcasting.
The New York journalism graduate program aims to prepare students who will compete with the excellent practice of journalism. Hence, they offer a Master’s in Journalism.
To learn more about studying in this top journalism graduate school, visit the link below.
#8. National University of Singapore (NUS)
Acceptance rate: 25%
Ranking: Program rank- #12, QS World Ranking-#11
School Type: Public
Communications and New Media (CNM) at the National University of Singapore is the only department in Southeast Asia that offers media studies, interactive media design, cultural studies, and communication management, focusing on new media.
CNM’s multidisciplinary approach to teaching gives students opportunities for experiential learning and raises journalists who can work in a wide range of media and communication organizations.
To further enhance this, they offer two graduate journalism degree
- Master of Arts (By Research)
- PhD in New Media
To learn more about these graduate programs and their application process, use the link below
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#9. Columbia University
Acceptance rate: 5%
Ranking: Program rank- #14, QS World Rank- #19
School Type: Private
The Columbia Journalism school is one of the top graduate journalism schools in the world. With over 100 years of experience, Columbia University has produced exceptional journalists. It aims to prepare students to become industry leaders and shape the profession’s path.
As one of America’s finest Universities, The Columbia Journalism School offers three graduate degree options.
- Master of Arts in Journalism
- Master of Science in Journalism
- Data Journalism – Master of Science
To learn more about these graduate options and how to apply, click the link below.
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#10. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
Acceptance rate: 4%
Ranking: Program rank- #15, QS World Ranking-#43
School Type: Public
The School of Journalism and Communication at CHUK has the longest communication education and research history in Hong Kong.
With its years of experience, CHUK has raised graduates who are now leaders in the media, communication, and cultural industries.
To produce graduates with practical skills, CHUK offers two graduate degree options: a master’s degree and a doctorate in Journalism, Media, and Communications.
Click the link below to learn more about the program and its application process.
FAQs on the Best Graduate Schools for Journalism
One of the best countries to study journalism in Australia. This is because many universities in Australia offer students the opportunity to study overseas for 1 or 2 semesters in countries like the UK, Canada, and the USA.
Yes, they do. Journalists in the bottom 10 per cent of earners made less than $25,690, while journalists in the top 10 per cent made more than $163,490. Broadcast news analysts earned an average salary of $56,680, while reporters and correspondents earned $37,820.
You need English literature, language, media, psychology, sociology, communication studies, and law.
Yes, it is worth it. If you are committed to continuing your education to have an edge above others, getting a Master’s degree is a great step.
Yes, Journalism is an amazing career. You get to learn all the cool stuff about news and data. If you enrol in one of these best journalism graduate schools, you can even be a data software expert!
Conclusion
Journalism is an exciting career. However, there could be limitations depending on your level of education.
So, Suppose you’d like to further your education and move forward in your journalism career. In that case, I suggest you get a graduate degree by enrolling in either of these best journalism graduate schools.
The clock is ticking!
Good luck!
Recommendation
- How to Become a Journalist in Australia
- Becoming a Journalist in India
- How to Become a Journalist in the UK
References
