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# Top Journalism Programs in the Midwest by Earnings (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Regional list from [Best Journalism Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-journalism-programs/)

This page ranks the 47 Journalism programs in the Midwest by median earnings of Journalism graduates four years after completing. [University of Wisconsin-Madison](/school/university-of-wisconsin-madison/majors/) leads the list at $75,967, followed by [University of Missouri-Columbia](/school/university-of-missouri-columbia/majors/) at $69,016 and [Creighton University](/school/creighton-university/majors/) at $67,808.

Across the listed schools, the median figure is $51,280, with a spread of $50,000 from $75,967 to $25,967. For 8 of the 47 programs the earnings figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 81% of the list, with 38 public and 9 private nonprofit schools represented. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks 35th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. Oakland University posts the lowest average net price at $9,120.

## The ranked list

47 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI | $75,967 | $17,354 | $4,200 | 45.2% |
|  | [University of Wisconsin-Madison](/school/university-of-wisconsin-madison/majors/) reports [$75,967 in median earnings](/school/university-of-wisconsin-madison/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing, the highest figure on this list. |
| 2 | University of Missouri-Columbia · Columbia, MO | $69,016 | $20,268 | $13,841 | 78.5% |
|  | With a cohort of 390 graduates, [University of Missouri-Columbia](/school/university-of-missouri-columbia/majors/) ranks 2nd on this list and posts [median earnings of $69,016](/school/university-of-missouri-columbia/outcomes/) four years after completing. |
| 3 | Creighton University · Omaha, NE | $67,808 | $31,568 | $20,472 | 79.8% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Omaha, [Creighton University](/school/creighton-university/majors/) posts an [admission rate of 80%](/school/creighton-university/admissions/) and median earnings of $67,808 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 4 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL | $67,539 | $14,355 | $2,038 | 42.4% |
|  | [University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign](/school/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign/majors/) carries an [average net price of $2,038](/school/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, the lowest such figure on the page. |
| 5 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Minneapolis, MN | $66,799 | $16,778 | $6,642 | 79.8% |
|  | Median earnings of $66,799 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing coincide with an [average net price of $16,778](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/cost/) at [University of Minnesota-Twin Cities](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/majors/). |
| 6 | Marquette University · Milwaukee, WI | $63,322 | $31,487 | $22,269 | 81.3% |
|  | [Marquette University](/school/marquette-university/majors/) ranks 6th on this list, and its Journalism completers who borrowed left with a [median of $25,155](/school/marquette-university/outcomes/) in federal loans. |
| 7 | Drake University · Des Moines, IA | $62,969 | $29,127 | $25,824 | 63.9% |
|  | [Drake University](/school/drake-university/majors/) [admits 64% of applicants](/school/drake-university/admissions/), and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $23,000 in federal loans. |
| 8 | University of Kansas · Lawrence, KS | $62,394 | $18,059 | $12,544 | 93.5% |
|  | [University of Kansas](/school/university-of-kansas/majors/) reports [median earnings of $62,394](/school/university-of-kansas/outcomes/) four years after completing, with 217 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 9 | DePaul University · Chicago, IL | $61,708 | $30,902 | $27,359 | 75.9% |
|  | [DePaul University](/school/depaul-university/majors/) ranks 9th on this list and posts an [average net price of $27,359](/school/depaul-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 10 | Miami University-Oxford · Oxford, OH | $60,974 | $28,384 | $16,015 | 75.4% |
|  | [Miami University-Oxford](/school/miami-university-oxford/majors/) shows an [admission rate of 75%](/school/miami-university-oxford/admissions/) and median earnings of $60,974 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 11 | Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI | $59,498 | $19,680 | $7,068 | 84.8% |
|  | [Michigan State University](/school/michigan-state-university/majors/) [ranks 69th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/michigan-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Journalism completers who borrowed left with a median of $23,547 in federal loans. |
| 12 | Ohio University-Main Campus · Athens, OH | $59,276 | $21,637 | $15,673 | 85.0% |
|  | [Ohio University-Main Campus](/school/ohio-university-main-campus/majors/) reports [median earnings of $59,276](/school/ohio-university-main-campus/outcomes/) four years after completing, with an average net price of $21,637. |
| 13 | Indiana University-Bloomington · Bloomington, IN | $59,151 | $16,264 | $6,324 | 78.2% |
|  | [Indiana University-Bloomington](/school/indiana-university-bloomington/majors/) ranks 13th on this list, with [median earnings of $59,151](/school/indiana-university-bloomington/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 14 | Loyola University Chicago · Chicago, IL | $57,407 | $36,079 | $28,992 | 81.6% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Chicago, [Loyola University Chicago](/school/loyola-university-chicago/majors/) posts an [average net price of $36,079](/school/loyola-university-chicago/cost/) and median earnings of $57,407 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 15 | University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA | $56,933 | $22,531 | $15,316 | 83.6% |
|  | [University of Iowa](/school/university-of-iowa/majors/) [admits 84% of applicants](/school/university-of-iowa/admissions/) and reports median federal debt of $23,957 among Journalism completers who borrowed. |
| 16 | Kansas State University · Manhattan, KS | $56,418 | $19,406 | $13,178 | 81.7% |
|  | With a cohort of 82 graduates, [Kansas State University](/school/kansas-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $56,418](/school/kansas-state-university/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 17 | Illinois State University · Normal, IL | $55,641 | $19,398 | $11,568 | 88.2% |
|  | [Illinois State University](/school/illinois-state-university/majors/) [ranks 137th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/illinois-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts an average net price of $19,398. |
| 18 | Wayne State University · Detroit, MI | $54,188 | $12,766 | $11,090 | 81.2% |
|  | [Wayne State University](/school/wayne-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $54,188](/school/wayne-state-university/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $12,766. |
| 19 | Eastern Illinois University · Charleston, IL | $54,038 | $12,786 | $9,828 | 65.4% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a [median of $21,500](/school/eastern-illinois-university/outcomes/) in federal loans at [Eastern Illinois University](/school/eastern-illinois-university/majors/), which ranks 19th on this list. |
| 20 | Iowa State University · Ames, IA | $53,633 | $18,589 | $10,582 | 88.7% |
|  | [Iowa State University](/school/iowa-state-university/majors/) [admits 89% of applicants](/school/iowa-state-university/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $53,633 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 21 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Lincoln, NE | $53,618 | $17,747 | $12,751 | 87.5% |
|  | [University of Nebraska-Lincoln](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/majors/) ranks 21st on this list, with an [average net price of $17,747](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/cost/) and a cohort of 72 graduates. |
| 22 | University of Nebraska at Kearney · Kearney, NE | $51,659 | $16,242 | $13,066 | 89.5% |
|  | Median federal debt among Journalism completers who borrowed is $22,602 at [University of Nebraska at Kearney](/school/university-of-nebraska-at-kearney/majors/), which reports [median earnings of $51,659](/school/university-of-nebraska-at-kearney/outcomes/) four years after completing. |
| 23 | Columbia College Chicago · Chicago, IL | $51,639 | $26,598 | $20,924 | 89.5% |
|  | A private nonprofit institution in Chicago, Columbia College Chicago ranks 1094th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 24 | Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH | $51,280 | $17,339 | $4,885 | 60.6% |
|  | [Ohio State University-Main Campus](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/majors/) posts [median earnings of $51,280](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing and admits 61% of applicants. |
| 25 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater · Whitewater, WI | $50,970 | $14,158 | $8,440 | 85.7% |
|  | [University of Wisconsin-Whitewater](/school/university-of-wisconsin-whitewater/majors/) reports [median earnings of $50,970](/school/university-of-wisconsin-whitewater/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $14,158. |
| 26 | Northern Illinois University · Dekalb, IL | $50,658 | $13,391 | $10,126 | 69.8% |
|  | [Northern Illinois University](/school/northern-illinois-university/majors/) [admits 70% of applicants](/school/northern-illinois-university/admissions/) and ranks 116th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 27 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale · Carbondale, IL | $49,880 | $13,297 | $9,415 | 86.9% |
|  | [Southern Illinois University-Carbondale](/school/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/majors/) graduates left with a [median of $21,269](/school/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/outcomes/) in federal loans among Journalism completers who borrowed, and the program's earnings cohort numbered 15 graduates. |
| 28 | Kent State University at Kent · Kent, OH | $49,842 | $20,787 | $15,280 | 86.3% |
|  | [Kent State University at Kent](/school/kent-state-university-at-kent/majors/) ranks 28th on this list, with an [average net price of $15,280](/school/kent-state-university-at-kent/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 29 | Ball State University · Muncie, IN | $49,456 | $14,940 | $7,834 | 85.5% |
|  | [Ball State University](/school/ball-state-university/majors/) posts [median earnings of $49,456](/school/ball-state-university/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing, drawn from a cohort of 85 graduates. |
| 30 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh · Oshkosh, WI | $48,935 | $14,305 | $9,236 | 86.5% |
|  | [University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh](/school/university-of-wisconsin-oshkosh/majors/) carries a [median federal debt of $21,500](/school/university-of-wisconsin-oshkosh/cost/) across all of the school's borrowers who completed, and its Journalism graduates earn a median of $48,935 four years after completing. |
| 31 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus · Bowling Green, OH | $48,803 | $24,022 | $18,396 | 81.0% |
|  | [Bowling Green State University-Main Campus](/school/bowling-green-state-university-main-campus/majors/) [admits 81% of applicants](/school/bowling-green-state-university-main-campus/admissions/) and reports an average net price of $24,022. |
| 32 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus · Cincinnati, OH | $48,331 | $25,648 | $17,974 | 85.3% |
|  | [University of Cincinnati-Main Campus](/school/university-of-cincinnati-main-campus/majors/) [ranks 250th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-cincinnati-main-campus/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Journalism completers who borrowed left with a median of $25,000 in federal loans. |
| 33 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire · Eau Claire, WI | $48,173 | $16,550 | $10,270 | 82.3% |
|  | An [average net price of $10,270](/school/university-of-wisconsin-eau-claire/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 is reported by [University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire](/school/university-of-wisconsin-eau-claire/majors/), whose Journalism graduates earn $48,173 four years after completing. |
| 34 | Indiana University-Indianapolis · Indianapolis, IN | $48,113 | $11,668 | $5,701 | 76.4% |
|  | [Indiana University-Indianapolis](/school/indiana-university-indianapolis/majors/) ranks 34th on this list and carries an [average net price of $11,668](/school/indiana-university-indianapolis/cost/). |
| 35 | Central Michigan University · Mount Pleasant, MI | $47,775 | $17,597 | $12,185 | 89.8% |
|  | [Central Michigan University](/school/central-michigan-university/majors/) graduates left with a [median of $27,000](/school/central-michigan-university/outcomes/) in federal loans among Journalism completers who borrowed, and the program's median earnings four years after completing are $47,775. |
| 36 | Oakland University · Rochester Hills, MI | $46,680 | $9,120 | $4,422 | 87.8% |
|  | [Oakland University](/school/oakland-university/majors/) [admits 88% of applicants](/school/oakland-university/admissions/) and ranks 147th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 37 | Eastern Michigan University · Ypsilanti, MI | $45,245 | $15,407 | $13,250 | 79.6% |
|  | [Eastern Michigan University](/school/eastern-michigan-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $45,245](/school/eastern-michigan-university/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $15,407. |
| 38 | University of Minnesota-Duluth · Duluth, MN | $42,478 | $18,743 | $7,256 | 88.8% |
|  | [University of Minnesota-Duluth](/school/university-of-minnesota-duluth/majors/) [admits 89% of applicants](/school/university-of-minnesota-duluth/admissions/) and its Journalism completers who borrowed left with a median of $22,750 in federal debt. |
| 39 | Central State University · Wilberforce, OH | $36,311 | $13,096 | $19,581 | 98.6% |
|  | [Central State University](/school/central-state-university/majors/) ranks 39th on this list and carries an [average net price of $19,581](/school/central-state-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 40 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls · River Falls, WI | $34,704 | $14,054 | $8,472 | 81.7% |
|  | [University of Wisconsin-River Falls](/school/university-of-wisconsin-river-falls/majors/) posts [median earnings of $34,704](/school/university-of-wisconsin-river-falls/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $14,054. |
| 41 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus · Fargo, ND | $31,133 | $15,543 | $9,370 | 95.0% |
|  | [North Dakota State University-Main Campus](/school/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus/majors/) [ranks 367th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an admission rate of 95%. |
| 42 | Webster University · Saint Louis, MO | $30,409 | $27,047 | $22,359 | 86.2% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Saint Louis, [Webster University](/school/webster-university/majors/) shows [median earnings of $30,409](/school/webster-university/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 43 | South Dakota State University · Brookings, SD | $30,119 | $19,841 | $14,266 | 98.3% |
|  | [South Dakota State University](/school/south-dakota-state-university/majors/) has an [admission rate of 98%](/school/south-dakota-state-university/admissions/) and an average net price of $14,266 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 44 | Minnesota State University Moorhead · Moorhead, MN | $29,685 | $17,997 | $11,129 | 58.8% |
|  | [Minnesota State University Moorhead](/school/minnesota-state-university-moorhead/majors/) reports [median earnings of $29,685](/school/minnesota-state-university-moorhead/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 10 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 45 | Bradley University · Peoria, IL | $29,461 | $22,719 | $17,269 | 76.8% |
|  | [Bradley University](/school/bradley-university/majors/) ranks 45th on this list and posts an [average net price of $17,269](/school/bradley-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 46 | Missouri State University-Springfield · Springfield, MO | $27,377 | $17,613 | $13,718 | 90.5% |
|  | [Missouri State University-Springfield](/school/missouri-state-university-springfield/majors/) posts an [average net price of $17,613](/school/missouri-state-university-springfield/cost/) and median earnings of $27,377 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 47 | The University of Olivet · Olivet, MI | $25,967 | $21,393 | $19,656 | 83.3% |
|  | [The University of Olivet](/school/the-university-of-olivet/majors/) [ranks 1165th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/the-university-of-olivet/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an admission rate of 83%. |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Journalism graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the Midwest appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 8 of the 47 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The spread from top to bottom is $50,000, with University of Wisconsin-Madison reporting $75,967 and the lowest-ranked program at $25,967.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Journalism Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-journalism-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-midwest/)
-   [Best Journalism Programs in the Northeast](/rankings/best-journalism-programs-in-the-northeast/)
-   [Best Journalism Programs in the South](/rankings/best-journalism-programs-in-the-south/)
-   [Best Journalism Programs in the West](/rankings/best-journalism-programs-in-the-west/)
-   Communication Colleges in the Midwest