100 Best Journalism and Digital Media schools in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Journalism and Digital Media. A graph of 5.72M citations received by 133K academic papers made by 363 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Journalism and Digital Media

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Journalism and Digital Media

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

3. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Journalism and Digital Media

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

4. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Journalism and Digital Media

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

5. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Journalism and Digital Media

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Journalism and Digital Media

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

7. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Journalism and Digital Media

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

8. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Journalism and Digital Media

#8 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

9. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Journalism and Digital Media

#9 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

10. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Journalism and Digital Media

#10 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

11. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Journalism and Digital Media

#11 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

12. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Journalism and Digital Media

#12 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

13. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Journalism and Digital Media

#13 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Journalism and Digital Media

#14 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

15. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Journalism and Digital Media

#15 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

16. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Journalism and Digital Media

#16 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

17. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Journalism and Digital Media

#17 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

18. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Journalism and Digital Media

#18 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

19. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Journalism and Digital Media

#20 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

20. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Journalism and Digital Media

#21 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

21. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Journalism and Digital Media

#22 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

22. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Journalism and Digital Media

#23 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

23. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Journalism and Digital Media

#24 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

24. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Journalism and Digital Media

#25 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

25. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Journalism and Digital Media

#26 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

26. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Journalism and Digital Media

#27 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

27. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Journalism and Digital Media

#28 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

28. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Journalism and Digital Media

#29 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

29. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Journalism and Digital Media

#30 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

30. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Journalism and Digital Media

#31 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

31. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Journalism and Digital Media

#32 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

32. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Journalism and Digital Media

#33 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Journalism and Digital Media

#34 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

34. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Journalism and Digital Media

#35 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

35. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Journalism and Digital Media

#36 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

36. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Journalism and Digital Media

#37 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

37. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Journalism and Digital Media

#38 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

38. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Journalism and Digital Media

#39 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

39. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Journalism and Digital Media

#40 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

40. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Journalism and Digital Media

#42 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

41. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Journalism and Digital Media

#43 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

42. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Journalism and Digital Media

#44 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

43. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Journalism and Digital Media

#45 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

44. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Journalism and Digital Media

#46 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

45. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Journalism and Digital Media

#47 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

46. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Journalism and Digital Media

#48 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

47. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Journalism and Digital Media

#51 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

48. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Journalism and Digital Media

#52 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

49. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Journalism and Digital Media

#53 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

50. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Journalism and Digital Media

#54 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

51. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Journalism and Digital Media

#55 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

52. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Journalism and Digital Media

#56 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

53. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Journalism and Digital Media

#58 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

54. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Journalism and Digital Media

#59 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

55. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Journalism and Digital Media

#60 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

56. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Journalism and Digital Media

#61 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

57. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Journalism and Digital Media

#62 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

58. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Journalism and Digital Media

#63 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 88%

59. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Journalism and Digital Media

#64 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

60. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Journalism and Digital Media

#66 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

61. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Journalism and Digital Media

#67 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

62. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Journalism and Digital Media

#68 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

63. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Journalism and Digital Media

#69 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

64. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Journalism and Digital Media

#70 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

65. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Journalism and Digital Media

#71 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

66. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Journalism and Digital Media

#72 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

67. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Journalism and Digital Media

#73 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

68. University of North Texas

Texas | Denton

For Journalism and Digital Media

#74 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 90%

69. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Journalism and Digital Media

#76 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

70. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Journalism and Digital Media

#77 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

71. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Journalism and Digital Media

#78 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

72. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Journalism and Digital Media

#82 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

73. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Journalism and Digital Media

#83 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

74. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Journalism and Digital Media

#84 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

75. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Journalism and Digital Media

#85 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

76. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Journalism and Digital Media

#86 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

77. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Journalism and Digital Media

#87 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

78. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Journalism and Digital Media

#88 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

79. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Journalism and Digital Media

#89 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

80. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Journalism and Digital Media

#90 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

81. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Journalism and Digital Media

#91 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

82. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Journalism and Digital Media

#92 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

83. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Journalism and Digital Media

#93 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

84. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Journalism and Digital Media

#94 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

85. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Journalism and Digital Media

#95 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

86. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Journalism and Digital Media

#96 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

87. University of Southern Mississippi

Mississippi | Hattiesburg

For Journalism and Digital Media

#97 in North America

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $10,900

88. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Journalism and Digital Media

#98 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

89. University of Maryland - Baltimore County

Maryland | Baltimore

For Journalism and Digital Media

#99 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 93%

90. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Journalism and Digital Media

#100 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

91. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Journalism and Digital Media

#101 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

92. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Journalism and Digital Media

#102 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

93. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Journalism and Digital Media

#104 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

94. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Journalism and Digital Media

#106 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

95. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Journalism and Digital Media

#107 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

96. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Journalism and Digital Media

#109 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

97. Kent State University at Kent

Ohio | Kent

For Journalism and Digital Media

#110 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%

98. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Journalism and Digital Media

#111 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $11,210
Enrollment: 17,560

99. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Journalism and Digital Media

#112 in North America

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

100. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Journalism and Digital Media

#115 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $6,347

The best cities to study Journalism and Digital Media in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Ann Arbor, Stanford, Champaign, and Austin.