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Home > Programs > Journalism > States > Illinois
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Median Journalism Salary | $71,010 |
| Salary Outlook | Illinois offers competitive wages for journalism professionals, reflected in the state-specific Bureau of Labor Statistics median salaries shown below. |
| Primary Licensing Body | Illinois Professional Licensing Board |
| Accreditation Required | Institutional + Regional |
Earning an online journalism degree in Illinois offers a flexible path into journalism careers. Illinois offers competitive wages for journalism professionals, reflected in the state-specific Bureau of Labor Statistics median salaries shown below. Whether you’re looking for an affordable in-state option or a nationally available program, Illinois students have access to a variety of accredited online choices that balance quality and cost.
The following schools offer accredited online journalism programs and are ranked based on affordability, graduation rates, and student outcomes in Illinois.
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Journalism professionals in Illinois experience a dynamic job market with competitive wages. Below are the median annual salaries for key roles in the field, based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for Illinois.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary (Illinois) |
|---|---|
| News Analyst, Reporter, and Journalist | $60,590 |
| Editor | $76,060 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $76,380 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Choosing a program in Illinois can provide several advantages:
The schools in our directory hold institutional accreditation from agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education - that is a condition of inclusion. Verify any specific school and program in the Department’s DAPIP database before enrolling.
Illinois offers competitive wages for journalism professionals, reflected in the state-specific Bureau of Labor Statistics median salaries shown below. This makes Illinois a strong choice for students looking to maximize their ROI after graduation.
The Illinois Professional Licensing Board oversees professional standards and licensure for the field in Illinois. Most accredited programs are designed to align with their specific requirements.
Back to Best Online Journalism Degrees by State (2026 Directory)
