Journalism · Illinois

Journalism colleges in Illinois

CampusPin lists 94 U.S. colleges in Illinois that offer Journalism programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.

Journalism teaches students to report, write, and verify news across print, broadcast, and digital media, suiting people drawn to research, storytelling, and the public interest.

Schools in Illinois that offer Journalism

Journalism programs in Illinois: by the numbers

A quick comparison of the 50 schools (of 94 total) listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.

Schools listed

94

Public / private

14 / 36

Universities / 2-year

35 / 15

Cities represented

34

In-state tuition range

$3,180–$55,587

Median in-state tuition

$18,807

Lowest published in-state tuition

Elgin Community College

$3,180

Most selective

Chicago State University

41% acceptance

Largest by enrollment

DeVry University-Illinois

29,175 students

Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.

What you'll study in a Journalism program

  • Reporting, interviewing, and source verification
  • News, feature, and investigative writing
  • Copy editing and AP style
  • Media law, ethics, and First Amendment principles
  • Multimedia production: audio, video, and photojournalism
  • Data journalism and public-records research
  • Digital and social media publishing
  • Internship and portfolio capstone

Where a Journalism degree can lead

  • News analysts, reporters, and journalists
  • Editor / Copy Editor
  • Multimedia / Video Journalist
  • Digital Content Producer
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Communications Coordinator

Typical pay: News analysts, reporters, and journalists earn a median of $60,280 (BLS, 2024)

A Journalism major covers reporting and interviewing, news and feature writing, editing, media law and ethics, and multimedia production across print, broadcast, and digital formats. Programs typically combine a writing-intensive core with skills work in audio, video, photojournalism, and data journalism, and most include a portfolio-building capstone plus an internship at a newsroom, magazine, broadcaster, or digital outlet.

Most graduates earn a bachelor's degree, the typical entry-level credential for the field. They go on to report and produce news, edit copy, manage social and digital content, and handle communications and public relations across media organizations, nonprofits, government, and corporate teams. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of news analysts, reporters, and journalists to decline about 3.9 percent from 2024 to 2034, so many students broaden their training toward digital, video, and communications work.

The major pairs naturally with Communications, Political Science, or English, and the research, writing, and deadline skills it builds transfer to marketing, content, and advocacy roles beyond the newsroom.

Journalism in other states

Other majors in Illinois

Find more Journalism schools

Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 94+ Journalism programs in Illinois by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.

Search Journalism schools in IllinoisAbout the Journalism majorAll colleges in Illinois

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