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# Best Journalism Programs in the West (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

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

This page ranks the 41 Journalism programs in the West by median earnings of Journalism graduates four years after completing, highest first. [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) leads the list at $79,776, followed by [Chapman University](/school/chapman-university/majors/) at $79,135 and [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/) at $70,829.

Across the listed schools, reported medians range from $79,776 to $20,140, with a median of $54,322. For 8 of the 41 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 76% of the list, with 31 public and 10 private nonprofit schools represented. California State University-Northridge posts the lowest average net price at $7,021, while California State University-Long Beach ranks 5th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

## The ranked list

41 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $79,776 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
|  | [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, with [median earnings of $79,776](/school/university-of-southern-california/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 2 | Chapman University · Orange, CA | $79,135 | $46,555 | $33,559 | 65.4% |
|  | [Chapman University](/school/chapman-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $46,555](/school/chapman-university/cost/) and median earnings of $79,135 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $70,829 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
|  | A public university in San Luis Obispo, [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/) reports [median earnings of $70,829](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 4 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion · Tempe, AZ | $64,224 | $14,967 | $9,070 | 89.9% |
|  | [Arizona State University Campus Immersion](/school/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion/majors/) [admits 90% of applicants](/school/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion/admissions/) and shows median earnings of $64,224 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 5 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $63,358 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
|  | [California State University-Chico](/school/california-state-university-chico/majors/) reports [median federal debt of $18,618](/school/california-state-university-chico/cost/) among Journalism completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $63,358 four years after completing. |
| 6 | Gonzaga University · Spokane, WA | $62,743 | $35,119 | $20,833 | 81.7% |
|  | Gonzaga University ranks 6th on this list and reports median earnings of $62,743 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 7 | Biola University · La Mirada, CA | $59,925 | $31,495 | $27,144 | 74.4% |
|  | [Biola University](/school/biola-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $31,495](/school/biola-university/cost/) and median federal debt of $27,000 among Journalism completers who borrowed. |
| 8 | California Baptist University · Riverside, CA | $58,821 | $26,285 | $22,298 | 84.9% |
|  | [California Baptist University](/school/california-baptist-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $58,821](/school/california-baptist-university/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 13 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 9 | Pepperdine University · Malibu, CA | $58,801 | $58,098 | $50,560 | 62.9% |
|  | [Pepperdine University](/school/pepperdine-university/majors/) shows [median federal debt of $23,510](/school/pepperdine-university/cost/) across all of the school's borrowers who completed, and median earnings of $58,801 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 10 | Washington State University · Pullman, WA | $58,795 | $14,971 | $7,074 | 86.6% |
|  | [Washington State University](/school/washington-state-university/majors/) ranks 10th on this list and reports an [average net price of $14,971](/school/washington-state-university/cost/) alongside median earnings of $58,795 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 11 | Northern Arizona University · Flagstaff, AZ | $57,868 | $14,158 | $9,709 | 89.6% |
|  | [Northern Arizona University](/school/northern-arizona-university/majors/) [admits 90% of applicants](/school/northern-arizona-university/admissions/) and reports median federal debt of $18,062 among Journalism completers who borrowed. |
| 12 | Western Washington University · Bellingham, WA | $57,697 | $21,193 | $12,915 | 93.3% |
|  | [Western Washington University](/school/western-washington-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $57,697](/school/western-washington-university/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 68 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 13 | University of Northern Colorado · Greeley, CO | $57,603 | $17,760 | $12,695 | 85.9% |
|  | University of Northern Colorado reports $57,603 in median earnings for its Journalism graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $17,760. |
| 14 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $57,492 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 29%](/school/university-of-california-irvine/admissions/), [University of California-Irvine](/school/university-of-california-irvine/majors/) ranks 12th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 15 | University of Alaska Anchorage · Anchorage, AK | $57,321 | $15,301 | $11,582 | Not reported |
|  | University of Alaska Anchorage shows median federal debt of $20,210 across all of the school's borrowers who completed, and its Journalism graduates earned a median of $57,321 four years after completing. |
| 16 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $57,260 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% |
|  | [San Francisco State University](/school/san-francisco-state-university/majors/) ranks 16th on this list, with [median earnings of $57,260](/school/san-francisco-state-university/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 17 | University of Colorado Boulder · Boulder, CO | $57,079 | $25,346 | $14,231 | 78.1% |
|  | [University of Colorado Boulder](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/majors/) posts an [average net price of $25,346](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/cost/) and median federal debt of $15,250 among Journalism completers who borrowed. |
| 18 | University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ | $55,676 | $16,674 | $13,353 | 86.1% |
|  | Admitting 86% of applicants, [University of Arizona](/school/university-of-arizona/majors/) reports [median earnings of $55,676](/school/university-of-arizona/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 19 | University of Oregon · Eugene, OR | $55,615 | $22,182 | $15,909 | 88.3% |
|  | [University of Oregon](/school/university-of-oregon/majors/) [ranks 384th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-oregon/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, with a Journalism earnings cohort of 139 graduates. |
| 20 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $55,192 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
|  | [California State University-Long Beach](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/majors/) reports an [average net price of $10,440](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/cost/) and median earnings of $55,192 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 21 | University of Nevada-Reno · Reno, NV | $54,322 | $15,927 | $12,674 | 73.7% |
|  | [University of Nevada-Reno](/school/university-of-nevada-reno/majors/) ranks 21st on this list, with [median federal debt of $19,500](/school/university-of-nevada-reno/cost/) among Journalism completers who borrowed. |
| 22 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $53,997 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
|  | An [admission rate of 36%](/school/san-diego-state-university/admissions/) coincides with median earnings of $53,997 for [San Diego State University](/school/san-diego-state-university/majors/)'s Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 23 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins · Fort Collins, CO | $53,528 | $21,279 | $13,259 | 88.5% |
|  | [Colorado State University-Fort Collins](/school/colorado-state-university-fort-collins/majors/) reports an [average net price of $21,279](/school/colorado-state-university-fort-collins/cost/) and median federal debt of $21,000 among Journalism completers who borrowed. |
| 24 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $53,351 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
|  | [California State University-Northridge](/school/california-state-university-northridge/majors/) [ranks 7th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/california-state-university-northridge/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, with median earnings of $53,351 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 25 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $53,145 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
|  | A public university in Sacramento, [California State University-Sacramento](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/majors/) reports [$53,145 in median earnings](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $9,338. |
| 26 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus · Albuquerque, NM | $52,760 | $15,489 | $11,938 | 95.2% |
|  | [University of New Mexico-Main Campus](/school/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus/majors/) [admits 95% of applicants](/school/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus/admissions/) and its Journalism completers who borrowed left with a median of $14,000 in federal loans. |
| 27 | Brigham Young University · Provo, UT | $50,338 | $15,564 | $10,444 | 67.8% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Provo, [Brigham Young University](/school/brigham-young-university/majors/) [ranks 27th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/brigham-young-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 28 | Metropolitan State University of Denver · Denver, CO | $47,460 | $15,327 | $12,481 | 98.8% |
|  | [Metropolitan State University of Denver](/school/metropolitan-state-university-of-denver/majors/) posts [median earnings of $47,460](/school/metropolitan-state-university-of-denver/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $12,481 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 29 | The University of Montana · Missoula, MT | $46,267 | $16,784 | $13,960 | 95.9% |
|  | The University of Montana ranks 29th on this list and its Journalism completers who borrowed left with a median of $25,260 in federal loans. |
| 30 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus · Las Cruces, NM | $45,765 | $8,889 | $6,648 | 89.0% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 89%](/school/new-mexico-state-university-main-campus/admissions/), [New Mexico State University-Main Campus](/school/new-mexico-state-university-main-campus/majors/) reports median earnings of $45,765 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 31 | University of Idaho · Moscow, ID | $45,288 | $14,831 | $11,270 | 75.5% |
|  | [University of Idaho](/school/university-of-idaho/majors/) shows an [average net price of $14,831,](/school/university-of-idaho/cost/) and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $21,982 in federal loans. |
| 32 | Point Loma Nazarene University · San Diego, CA | $41,937 | $38,729 | $30,999 | 83.7% |
|  | [Point Loma Nazarene University](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $41,937](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $30,999 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 33 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt · Arcata, CA | $39,178 | $13,171 | $8,483 | 98.2% |
|  | [California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/majors/) [ranks 390th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and its Journalism completers who borrowed left with a median of $20,000 in federal loans. |
| 34 | University of Wyoming · Laramie, WY | $38,934 | $13,599 | $7,977 | 96.9% |
|  | [University of Wyoming](/school/university-of-wyoming/majors/) [admits 97% of applicants](/school/university-of-wyoming/admissions/), and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $18,000 in federal loans. |
| 35 | University of Denver · Denver, CO | $36,852 | $36,131 | $20,097 | 77.8% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Denver, University of Denver reports median earnings of $36,852 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 36 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus · Seattle, WA | $33,565 | $14,091 | $6,384 | 39.2% |
|  | [University of Washington-Seattle Campus](/school/university-of-washington-seattle-campus/majors/) [ranks 72nd on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-washington-seattle-campus/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an average net price of $6,384 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 37 | San Jose State University · San Jose, CA | $30,771 | $13,760 | $9,730 | 84.6% |
|  | [San Jose State University](/school/san-jose-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $30,771](/school/san-jose-state-university/outcomes/) for its Journalism graduates four years after completing, with 27 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 38 | University of Hawaii at Manoa · Honolulu, HI | $29,141 | $15,664 | $10,675 | 86.6% |
|  | An [average net price of $10,675](/school/university-of-hawaii-at-manoa/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 coincides with [University of Hawaii at Manoa](/school/university-of-hawaii-at-manoa/majors/)'s 38th position on this list. |
| 39 | University of La Verne · La Verne, CA | $26,739 | $20,161 | $20,151 | 71.2% |
|  | [University of La Verne](/school/university-of-la-verne/majors/), a private nonprofit university in La Verne, [admits 71% of applicants](/school/university-of-la-verne/admissions/) and ranks 473rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 40 | California State University-Dominguez Hills · Carson, CA | $25,194 | $8,615 | $7,303 | 93.3% |
|  | [California State University-Dominguez Hills](/school/california-state-university-dominguez-hills/majors/) posts an [average net price of $8,615](/school/california-state-university-dominguez-hills/cost/) and median earnings of $25,194 for its Journalism graduates four years after completing. |
| 41 | Eastern Washington University · Cheney, WA | $20,140 | $13,886 | $9,547 | 90.8% |
|  | With 11 graduates in the earnings cohort, [Eastern Washington University](/school/eastern-washington-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $20,140](/school/eastern-washington-university/outcomes/) four years after completing its Journalism program. |

## 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 West appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. For 8 of the 41 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 gap between first-ranked University of Southern California and second-ranked Chapman University is $641, while the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $59,636.

## Related rankings

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