Students in online journalism degree programs come from all walks of life.

They may include traditional college-age students, established professionals, working parents, military service members, and lifelong learners.

There are many reasons to consider pursuing a journalism degree online: You may work full-time, have family obligations, be unable to relocate or commute, have financial concerns, or have a disability or health condition that makes getting a degree in person difficult.

An online program may allow you to earn a degree or advance your career in dozens of respected fields — including journalism — when you may not otherwise have been able to.

However, online degrees aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. So, before you enroll, make sure you understand all the pros and cons of getting an online journalism degree.

What are the pros and cons of getting your degree online?

Earning an online journalism or communication degree is a significant investment of time and money, so it’s important to be sure that the type of program you choose will meet your educational and career goals. 

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, offering some classes online but requiring 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 accreditation 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 which online journalism program is best for you.

Bachelor’s degree programs in journalism and related fields at ACEJMC-accredited universities with some type of online component

(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

(Source: Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications)

What is the best degree for journalism

While the conventional compass might point you toward a straightforward “bachelor’s degree in journalism,” the reality is more nuanced. The type of journalism or communication job you’re interested in pursuing will determine the best degree for journalism that you should pursue.

Tailoring your education to your chosen media or communication niche is crucial. Consider exploring institutions that offer degrees or concentrations in reporting and writing, sports media, broadcasting, strategic communication, multimedia production and design, public relations, or even data science.

While a bachelor’s degree is usually best, an associate degree or degree in another field may work if you have newsroom experience. Some journalists also may pursue a master’s degree that specializes in a field such as investigative journalism, which will delve more deeply into areas such as data journalism and media law and ethics. You also may consider an advanced degree — such as a master’s  in strategic communication or PhD in mass communication — if you want to teach. 

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.

With numerous colleges and universities offering journalism programs, you are sure to find the best journalism school to align with your preferences and goals.

Is it hard to get a journalism degree?

There are many ways to evaluate how hard it is to get a degree in a specific field. You could look at the number of hours an average student spends studying. Lower average GPAs, attrition, and graduation rates also may indicate a higher degree of difficulty. 

Most “hardest degrees” lists rank STEM fields — such as chemistry, engineering, and physics — at the top, while journalism and communication tend to appear farther down these lists. 

Anna Newnum, academic advisor for University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication, reminds students that what is hard for one person may not be difficult for another. 

“Journalism may not have a reputation for being the hardest major, but it does have — at least on our campus — a reputation of being rigorous in terms of expectations and work required,” Newnum says. “Faculty members are professionals in the field and expect their students to achieve a standard of professionalism. They don’t simply want their students to pass a class, but to gain the skills necessary — through coursework and opportunities outside the classroom — to be successful in the field.”

And speaking of the skills needed to be a journalist or work in a communications position, while your required classes may not be considered as difficult as those in STEM fields, that doesn’t mean they aren’t valuable.

“There are so many different skills involved that most students feel stretched in some way while they’re in the program,” Newnum says. “Some students will recognize that as a good stretch. But others may be intimidated by that. They may think, ‘I’m a writer and I don’t feel comfortable in visual classes or taking photos.’ Or they may be a photographer who doesn’t feel comfortable with the writing classes.  

“In the end, it’s a question of, ‘Is that a stretch I want to make every day?’”

Every major will test its students in different ways. You may feel in control in some classes, while others are more challenging. That’s OK. The best major for you will contain a balance of both.

What can you do with a journalism degree?

What can’t you do with a journalism degree?

OK, maybe you won’t become an architect or civil engineer — at least not without a double major!

A journalism degree can take you down many varied professional paths. Career opportunities in journalism can take you around the world, introduce you to new people, and provide the chance to do meaningful work.

Careers for journalism majors may include:

Are journalism degrees worth it?

A journalism degree is absolutely worth it as it 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 media, 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.

“Storytelling and journalism is going to change, it’s going to shift,” Tully says. “Having a journalism degree or being part of a journalism degree program provides the opportunity to be at the forefront of those changes.”