Yes, you sure can.
In fact, most students have taken at least one online class at some point during their academic careers. And today, most top colleges and universities offer online versions of at least some of their on-campus courses and programs — including journalism.
Online learning has been growing steadily for a couple of decades due to its increased accessibility, flexibility, and convenience, but it really surged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But it’s important to understand that earning a journalism degree online — whether an associate, a bachelor’s, or a master’s degree, or a PhD — can look different from program to program.
53 %
enrolled in at least one online class in 2022
Source: National Center for Education Statistics
For example, a program may be:
- 100% online: In this version, you likely will have no physical interaction with your professors or other students.
- Hybrid: These programs combine some online classes with some in-person components — whether that is classes, labs, or experiential learning opportunities.
- Online components: Some traditional in-person degree programs may offer a class or two online.
There also are a few types of online learning:
- Synchronous learning: This is when professors and students gather at the same time (whether in a virtual or physical space) and interact in real time. Students are required to log in and participate at specific times and days. They also can get immediate feedback and ask questions in the moment.
- Asynchronous learning: This is when students access materials (recorded lectures or other resources) at their own pace and interact with professors and other students over longer periods of time. This can provide a more flexible schedule, but it can be more difficult to build relationships and can take longer to receive feedback and get answers to questions.
When looking for the best online journalism degree program for you, make sure you know what type of online program and learning format you want and that the schools you are looking at offer it.
What is the best online college for journalism?
Nearly 1,400 colleges and universities in the United States offer some type of journalism degree, with many schools featuring an online learning component of some kind. But which school is the best?
Well, it depends on how you define “best.” Each student’s priorities are different.
There are dozens of journalism school rankings available — including “best online journalism program” — from a range of sources, each with its own ranking methodology.
One tool you can use to help narrow down your search is the list of colleges and universities that are accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). The ACEJMC does not rank programs. Instead, it evaluates journalism programs based on its established educational requirements and standards.
It’s important to note that not every program that indicates it has a distance education program is fully online. It’s possible that it is, but it’s also possible that it is a hybrid model, in which it offers some classes online but requires in-person attendance for others. Some schools also only offer online master's degrees and not undergraduate degrees.
You also should know that the ACEJMC is voluntary, and not every school chooses to seek it. Some very fine journalism programs are not listed here. So, if a school you’re interested in is not on it, that doesn’t necessarily mean there is something wrong with it.
Still, this list can be a great starting point to help you determine the best online journalism program for you.
Bachelor’s degree programs in journalism and related fields at ACEJMC-accredited universities with some type of online component
| Institution name | State | Online programs |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University Digital Immersion | AZ | 2 |
| Arkansas State University | AR | 1 |
| Ball State University | IN | 4 |
| Colorado State University–Fort Collins | CO | 1 |
| Drake University | IA | 1 |
| Eastern Illinois University | IL | 1 |
| Florida International University | FL | 1 |
| Kansas State University | KS | 2 |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College | LA | 1 |
| Loyola University New Orleans | LA | 3 |
| Murray State University | KY | 3 |
| Saint Cloud State University | MN | 1 |
| The University of Alabama | AL | 2 |
| University of Arizona | AZ | 2 |
| University of Florida | FL | 4 |
| University of Florida–Online | FL | 3 |
| University of Idaho | ID | 1 |
| University of Memphis | TN | 2 |
| University of Minnesota–Twin Cities | MN | 2 |
| West Virginia University | WV | 1 |
Source: Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications
Master’s degree programs in journalism and related fields at ACEJMC-accredited universities with some type of online component
| Institution name | State | Online master's programs |
|---|---|---|
| American University | DC | 1 |
| Arizona State University Digital Immersion | AZ | 3 |
| Arkansas State University | AR | 3 |
| Ball State University | IN | 3 |
| Baylor University | TX | 1 |
| Colorado State University–Fort Collins | CO | 1 |
| Drake University | IA | 1 |
| Florida International University | FL | 1 |
| Kansas State University | KS | 1 |
| Kent State University at Kent | OH | 1 |
| Loyola University New Orleans | LA | 1 |
| Michigan State University | MI | 1 |
| Murray State University | KY | 2 |
| New York University | NY | 2 |
| Ohio University–Main Campus | OH | 1 |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | PA | 1 |
| South Dakota State University | SD | 1 |
| St Bonaventure University | NY | 1 |
| Syracuse University | NY | 1 |
| Temple University | PA | 2 |
| The University of Alabama | AL | 2 |
| The University of Tennessee–Knoxville | TN | 1 |
| University of Arizona | AZ | 2 |
| University of Florida | FL | 1 |
| University of Georgia | GA | 2 |
| University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign | IL | 1 |
| University of Iowa | IA | 1 |
| University of Kansas | KS | 2 |
| University of Memphis | TN | 1 |
| University of Minnesota–Twin Cities | MN | 1 |
| University of Mississippi | MS | 1 |
| University of Nebraska–Lincoln | NE | 1 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | NC | 1 |
| University of North Texas | TX | 1 |
| University of Oklahoma–Norman Campus | OK | 1 |
| University of South Florida | FL | 1 |
| University of Southern California | CA | 1 |
| University of Southern Mississippi | MS | 1 |
| West Virginia University | WV | 2 |
Source: Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications
Is it OK to get a master’s degree online?
Yes, it is. In fact, most online graduate programs from reputable, accredited schools use the same course materials and professors as in-person programs.
There are many reasons to consider getting a master’s degree, including strengthening skills and advancing your knowledge in the field, expanding your professional connections, opening the door to new opportunities, and positively impacting your earning potential.
If you want or need to continue working full-time or have family obligations, are not able to relocate or commute, or have a disability or health condition that makes in-person learning difficult, getting your journalism or communications master’s degree online may allow you to reach your goals.
Master’s and doctoral students who participated in online learning in 2021
- At least one online course: 56%
- Exclusively online courses: 40%
Many online master’s degree programs involve no in-person classes, although some may include minimal on-campus experiences or visits. Make sure you understand the requirements of the online journalism and communications master’s degree programs you are considering.
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. Your specific interests and career aspirations will influence the ideal educational path for you.
Depending on the media or communication field you want to specialize in, you may want to explore areas such as reporting and writing, broadcasting, strategic communication, multimedia production and design, public relations, or even data science.
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 can choose the option that best suits your needs and preferences.
“Storytelling and journalism is going to change, it’s going to shift. Having a journalism degree or being part of a journalism degree program provides the opportunity to be at the forefront of those changes.”
Are journalism degrees worth it?
A journalism degree can be the key to landing a job in numerous fields. An obvious outcome is in traditional journalism, where a journalism grad can carve out a role as a reporter, an editor, a proofreader, a photographer, a graphic designer, a video producer/editor, and so on. Aspiring journalists can pursue their passions in numerous types of journalism: politics, sports, health care, science/research, business, entertainment, etc.
Another common field for journalism grads is broadcasting. The field employs on-air broadcasters, along with producers, directors, film and video editors, and photographers, to name a few.
A journalism grad’s job prospects are not limited to the field of journalism. Degree holders can find work in public relations, advertising, digital communication, fundraising, nonprofit communication, technical writing, narrative writing and storytelling, health education, publishing, and data analysis/audience research.
Bottom line: Opportunities to tell stories and deliver community journalism aren’t going away — and people with a journalism degree will be the ones best equipped to tell those stories.
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