A journalism degree equips students with a wide range of skills that transfer to careers across disciplines. Along with jobs in traditional newsrooms, a journalism degree also can open the door to fields such as marketing, public relations, publishing, and communications roles with companies, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.

There is a degree for every journalism dream. Ultimately, the best journalism degree for you is the one that sets you on a path toward the type of journalist you want to become. 

Some common types of journalism degrees, concentrations, or tracks include:

• Broadcasting and video and audio production
• Data analysis and audience research
• Narrative writing and storytelling
• News writing
• Nonprofit communications
• Photography and graphic design
• Political media
• Public relations and advertising
• Sports media 

What jobs can you get with a journalism degree?

Journalism is a broad area of study that teaches skills valuable to many fields. A journalism degree can open the door to a wide variety of career opportunities. 

“A journalism degree trains students to be adaptable,” says Melissa Tully, director of the University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication. “Between day one of class and when they leave four years later, there will be jobs that exist that didn’t exist when they started. Students can go anywhere with the skills that they gain from a journalism and mass communication program.”

Careers for journalism majors can include:

What type of journalism pays the most?

If you simply want to look at big numbers, high-profile broadcasters are examples of some of the highest-paying jobs in the industry. The annual salaries of many well-known broadcasters — including journalism and mass communication grads such as David Muir, Robin Roberts, and Stephen A. Smith — are purported to be large enough to necessitate two commas.

While it’s good to have lofty goals, it might not be best to hold up outliers as the definition of a journalism degree salary. 

Below you’ll find salary ranges, categorized by the type of job often held by those with a journalism degree. The average annual salary is there, but we also want to show what an income looks like at various percentiles (10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th). The lower points give you an idea of where entry-level jobs might land, or what you might be paid in certain geographic regions that aren’t major media markets. (It’s not impossible to make six figures right out of college, but it’s hardly common.)

^{(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023)}

Certain positions in digital communication, public relations, and advertising might bump you up a tax bracket, especially at the management level. Advertising managers and public relations managers see average salaries a bit north of $150K, for example; digital communication managers are not far behind that mark.

In terms of traditional journalism jobs, the average salary data above points to news analysts/reporters/journalists as the most lucrative job category — but this comes with a caveat. While that category sees an average salary just over $100K, it’s worth noting that the median average salary — the dollar amount at which there is an equal number of people earning more and less than that — is $57,500. That would indicate that the top earners in the category are seriously skewing the average salary figure.

What is the best degree for journalism?

While you might think that the best degree for journalism is a bachelor’s degree in journalism, that may not always be the case. The type of journalism or communication job you’re interested in pursuing will determine the specific degree or concentration you should pursue.

Depending on the media or communication field you want to specialize in, you may want to consider getting a degree or concentration in areas such as reporting and writing, broadcasting, strategic communication, multimedia production and design, public relations, or data science.

You’ll also need to decide what level of degree you want or need for the career you seek. A bachelor’s degree explores a discipline broadly and usually takes four years to complete. If you want to further specialize in a certain area or pursue an advanced career in research or academia or as a senior leader in an organization, you can acquire a master’s degree in strategic communication or PhD in mass communication. An associate degree also may help you break into the field.

Some journalism students also get a double major, minor, or certificate in a related or complementary field, such as communications, business, political science, or sport recreation and management.

Additionally, you’ll need to decide whether you want to pursue your degree in person or online. There are many schools that offer journalism degrees, so you’re sure to find the one that best suits your needs and preferences.

Is journalism a popular major?

Communications and journalism are consistently ranked among the top 10 most popular majors. Of the 2 million bachelor’s degrees conferred during the 2021–22 academic year, 86,572 were for communication, journalism, and related programs. 

Keep in mind that these lists refer to the popularity of majors across colleges and universities in the United States. A major’s popularity may differ at individual schools depending on the range of their offerings or the strength of their programs.

What majors go well with journalism?

Journalism and communications are broad areas of study, and many majors pair well with them. In fact, adding another major may make sense to help you break into the type of journalism job that you want or potentially lead to more job opportunities or higher earnings.

“Sometimes students worry about whether they’re picking the right double major,” says Anna Newnum, academic advisor for University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication. “I tell them there is no right answer. Sometimes it’s not obvious right away, but the skills you gain in a journalism program are applicable in a lot of different ways. It’s not unusual for a class of our students to be pursuing 30 to 40 different majors, minors, or certificates along with journalism.” 

Here are 10 common double majors that students working toward journalism or communications pursue:

What degree is best for investigative journalism?

Most investigative journalism jobs require some type of journalism degree. Getting a double major or minor in a field such as political science also may be useful, depending on the area you want to cover.

While a bachelor’s degree is usually best, an associate degree or degree in another field may suffice if you have reporting experience.

Some journalists also may pursue a master’s degree that specializes in investigative journalism, which will delve more deeply into areas such as data journalism and media law and ethics. 

Can I earn a journalism degree online?

Yes, you can.

Online courses also can vary in format, with some being live lectures while others are recorded and can be watched at your convenience.