2027 Accredited Online Journalism Degree Programs With No GRE or GMAT Requirements
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Choosing an online journalism degree is harder when admissions policies sound similar but program quality varies widely. Many accredited programs now skip the GRE or GMAT, which can save time and testing costs, but applicants still need to prove writing ability, academic readiness, and career focus. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a May 2024 median annual wage of $60,280 for news analysts, reporters, and journalists, making program fit and portfolio strength especially important.
This guide helps prospective students compare no-test programs, costs, accreditation, admissions standards, and outcomes before applying.
Key Things You Should Know
- No-GRE and no-GMAT journalism programs are usually test-free or test-optional, not automatically easier; writing samples, GPA, recommendations, and professional experience often carry more weight.
- The GRE General Test currently costs $220 in the U.S., so applying to test-free programs can reduce upfront costs, but tuition, fees, technology requirements, and lost work time matter more for total ROI.
- For journalism careers, accreditation and portfolio outcomes matter more than test policies; BLS May 2024 data places the median wage for news analysts, reporters, and journalists at $60,280, with related communications roles varying by industry and location.
Which Accredited Online Journalism Degree Programs Do Not Require the GRE or GMAT?
Accredited online journalism programs without GRE or GMAT requirements are most common at the master's level, although bachelor's programs typically do not use graduate entrance exams at all. In this context, "accredited" usually means the college or university holds institutional accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or CHEA; journalism-specific accreditation, such as ACEJMC review, is valuable but not required for every legitimate program.
The table below summarizes examples of accredited online journalism or closely related journalism-focused programs that commonly advertise no GRE or GMAT requirement. Policies can change by term, so applicants should confirm the requirement directly with the admissions office before paying an application fee.
| Institution | Online journalism-related degree | Typical test policy | Best-fit applicant | Accreditation point to verify |
| University of Memphis | MA in Journalism and Strategic Media | GRE generally not required | Students interested in journalism, strategic media, digital storytelling, or communications leadership | Institutional accreditation and department-level curriculum fit |
| Kent State University | MA in Journalism and Mass Communication | GRE generally not required | Working communicators who want flexible graduate study in journalism, public relations, or media management | Institutional accreditation and whether the concentration aligns with career goals |
| St. Bonaventure University | MA in Digital Journalism | GRE/GMAT generally not required | Students seeking a professionally focused digital reporting and multimedia program | Institutional accreditation and portfolio-building opportunities |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Online journalism and mass communications graduate options | GRE commonly not required for many applicants or programs | Applicants who want communications, media, and journalism coursework from a large public university | Institutional accreditation and program-specific admissions policy |
| Ball State University | MA in Journalism or related media communication options | GRE commonly not required | Students seeking applied media, reporting, design, or strategic communication flexibility | Institutional accreditation and online course availability by concentration |
Students who are not ready for a bachelor's or master's program can also build writing, research, and general education credits first; some compare the best associate degree in 6 months online options as a faster entry point before transferring into a journalism-related bachelor's pathway. That route works best when credits are transferable and the student has already checked whether the future journalism program accepts them.
Why Have Accredited Online Journalism Degree Programs Eliminated GRE and GMAT Requirements?
Journalism schools have moved away from GRE and GMAT requirements because those exams do not directly measure the skills most journalism programs need to evaluate: reporting judgment, writing clarity, ethics, curiosity, source development, and multimedia fluency. A strong article, audio story, video package, newsletter, or investigative project often tells an admissions committee more than a quantitative test score.
This shift is also part of a broader graduate admissions trend. Many professional programs now rely on holistic review, especially for applicants who have meaningful work samples or relevant experience; the same pattern appears in many MBA online programs that no longer use the GMAT or GRE as a universal filter.
For journalism applicants, the practical result is simple: test flexibility removes one barrier, but it raises the importance of every other application component. Schools may scrutinize your statement of purpose, résumé, clips, recommendations, and undergraduate transcript more closely because they have fewer standardized signals to compare.
What Admissions Criteria Matter Most Without GRE or GMAT Scores?
Without GRE or GMAT scores, admissions committees usually focus on whether the applicant can succeed in a writing-heavy, deadline-driven academic environment. Journalism programs want evidence that you can report accurately, write clearly, revise thoughtfully, and handle ethical decisions in public-facing work.
The following application materials often matter most because they help the school evaluate readiness in a practical way:
- Writing sample or portfolio: Submit your strongest published clips, class projects, newsletters, multimedia stories, or long-form writing. Quality matters more than volume.
- Statement of purpose: Explain why journalism, why this program, and what kind of reporting, editing, media production, or communications work you want to pursue.
- Academic record: A solid GPA helps, but schools may also look at writing-intensive courses, research courses, communication classes, and improvement over time.
- Recommendations: Choose recommenders who can speak to your writing, reliability, curiosity, ethics, and ability to meet deadlines.
- Professional experience: Experience in student media, local news, nonprofit communications, podcasts, social media production, public relations, or content strategy can strengthen an application.
If test scores are optional and you already have a strong GRE score, submitting it may help only if it adds evidence not already visible in your transcript or portfolio. If the score is average or unrelated to your strengths, your time is usually better spent improving your personal statement and writing samples.
No-GRE and no-GMAT programs are not automatically easier to enter. They are easier to apply to because you avoid test scheduling, test preparation, and exam fees, but the program may still be selective if it has limited seats, strong faculty, competitive assistantships, or a reputation for professional placement.
The table below explains the differences among test-required, test-optional, and test-free admissions. Understanding these terms helps applicants decide whether to submit scores when they are not required:
| Admissions policy | What it means | Should you submit scores? | What matters most instead |
| Test-required | GRE or GMAT scores must be submitted for a complete application | Yes, because the application may not be reviewed without them | Scores, GPA, writing sample, statement, and recommendations |
| Test-optional | Scores are accepted but not required | Submit only if they strengthen your profile | Portfolio, academic record, purpose statement, and experience |
| Test-free | Scores are not used in admissions review | No, because the school does not consider them | Writing quality, readiness, fit, and evidence of professional potential |
| Test waiver | The test may be waived if you meet GPA, degree, or experience criteria | Only if you do not qualify for the waiver or the school advises it | Waiver eligibility, transcript, résumé, and recommendations |
For applicants with a weaker GPA, a no-test policy can be helpful but not a cure-all. You may need to offset academic concerns with a sharper statement, stronger recommendations, recent writing coursework, or professional clips that show you can handle graduate-level work.
Skipping the GRE or GMAT does not reduce academic quality by itself. Accreditation, faculty expertise, curriculum design, student support, graduation requirements, and assessment standards determine program quality more directly than whether an entrance exam is required.
For U.S. students, the first checkpoint is institutional accreditation. A school should be accredited by a recognized institutional accreditor so that students can generally access federal financial aid, transfer credits more reliably, and meet employer or graduate-school expectations. Journalism-specific accreditation can add another layer of confidence, but many legitimate journalism, digital media, and communication programs operate without specialized accreditation.
Students should be careful not to confuse convenience with quality. A credible no-GRE online journalism program should still require demanding coursework in reporting, media law, ethics, research, editing, digital production, audience strategy, or a capstone project.
If a program has no meaningful writing requirement, no faculty transparency, vague accreditation language, or unusually aggressive enrollment pressure, treat that as a red flag.
No-GRE online journalism degrees are especially useful for students whose strengths are better shown through work than through standardized testing. They can also help working adults apply faster because they remove a time-consuming step that may not be relevant to their career goals.
These applicants often benefit most from a no-test pathway because they can demonstrate readiness through experience and portfolio evidence:
- Working journalists and editors who already have clips, newsroom experience, or audience-facing media work.
- Career changers from teaching, marketing, public service, law, science, or nonprofit work who can bring subject-matter expertise into reporting.
- Military veterans and public-sector professionals who have strong communication experience but may not have taken standardized tests recently.
- Students with strong writing samples but uneven test performance who want admissions reviewers to focus on practical skills.
- Parents and full-time employees who need to reduce application friction and prioritize flexible online scheduling.
Students considering long-term academic or research careers should think beyond the master's degree. Some may eventually compare online PhD programs for working professionals, but journalism applicants should first ask whether they need a professional master's for reporting and media work or a research doctorate for teaching, scholarship, or communication research.
The current media environment also rewards applicants who can combine journalism fundamentals with digital skills. AI-assisted research, automated transcription, data visualization, newsletter publishing, podcasting, audience analytics, and short-form video are now common parts of newsroom and media workflows, but ethical judgment and verification remain central.
Admissions flexibility should not be confused with affordability. A no-GRE policy can reduce application costs, but the larger financial decision is total program cost: tuition, fees, books, software, equipment, travel for any residency, and the number of credits required to graduate.
Recent federal education data shows why students should compare costs carefully. NCES Digest of Education Statistics tables published in 2024 report average graduate tuition and required fees for 2022-23 at:
- $12,596 at public institutions
- $29,931 at private nonprofit institutions
Those averages are not journalism-specific, but they provide a useful benchmark: a lower application burden does not necessarily mean a lower-cost degree. Online students should calculate the full price per credit, mandatory fees, and expected completion time before deciding that one program is the better deal.
Financial aid can include federal loans, employer tuition assistance, scholarships, assistantships, military education benefits, and payment plans. Graduate students should also compare borrowing limits and interest costs because a short, expensive program may cost more over time than a longer but lower-tuition option.
Students comparing journalism with adjacent information careers may also find it useful to review MLIS degree cost data, especially if they are interested in archives, research, information organization, or media librarianship rather than reporting.
Graduates of online journalism programs may pursue reporting, editing, audience engagement, digital production, podcasting, social video, data journalism, public affairs communication, nonprofit media, brand journalism, or communications strategy. The strongest outcomes usually come from programs that help students graduate with a portfolio, not just course credits.
BLS May 2024 data reported a median annual wage of $60,280 for news analysts, reporters, and journalists. That figure is useful as a labor-market reference, but it should not be treated as a salary promise; pay varies significantly by location, employer type, beat, audience size, union status, and whether the role is in journalism, public relations, marketing, or corporate communications.
The table below shows how common journalism-related paths differ in daily work and the type of evidence employers often want to see:
| Career path | Typical responsibilities | Portfolio evidence that helps | Degree value |
| Reporter or correspondent | Pitch stories, interview sources, verify facts, write or produce deadline-driven coverage | Published clips, beat reporting, multimedia packages, source diversity | Strong when paired with reporting practice and editorial feedback |
| Editor | Shape stories, manage writers, check accuracy, improve structure and style | Edited projects, before-and-after samples, publication leadership | Useful for moving from writing into editorial leadership |
| Digital producer | Package stories for web, social, newsletters, audio, or video platforms | CMS work, analytics-informed projects, social video, newsletters | Strong if the curriculum includes digital tools and audience strategy |
| Data or investigative journalist | Analyze records, build databases, verify claims, produce accountability reporting | Data projects, public records work, visualizations, investigative clips | Best when coursework includes research methods, data skills, and media law |
| Strategic or public-interest communicator | Create factual content for organizations, agencies, nonprofits, or campaigns | Feature writing, explainers, campaigns, policy communication samples | Useful when the program blends journalism ethics with audience communication |
Employers generally do not evaluate graduates based on whether they took the GRE. They are more likely to care about writing quality, accuracy, speed, news judgment, digital fluency, internships, clips, and the credibility of the institution.
Many applicants weaken their chances by treating "no GRE" as the main advantage instead of building a complete admissions case. A no-test application should still show academic readiness, professional direction, and evidence that the applicant understands journalism's demands.
Before applying, watch for these common mistakes and correct them early:
- Choosing a program only because it has no GRE or GMAT: Compare curriculum, faculty, portfolio support, cost, and accreditation before prioritizing test policy.
- Submitting generic writing samples: Use pieces that show reporting, structure, accuracy, voice, and revision rather than casual blog posts with limited sourcing.
- Ignoring the statement of purpose: A vague essay can make even a strong applicant look unfocused. Connect your goals to specific courses, faculty strengths, or program outcomes.
- Overlooking prerequisite or GPA expectations: Some programs may not require test scores but may still expect a minimum GPA, writing background, or professional experience.
- Assuming online means self-paced: Many online journalism courses have weekly deadlines, live sessions, group editing, or production schedules.
- Failing to verify accreditation: Do not rely on marketing language alone. Confirm the institution's accreditation status through recognized sources.
- Underestimating equipment and software needs: Multimedia courses may require a reliable computer, audio tools, video capability, editing software, or mobile reporting gear.
A strong application usually tells a coherent story: what you have done, what you want to learn, why the program fits, and how you will use the degree. That matters more than simply avoiding a standardized test.
How Should Students Compare Accredited Online Journalism Degree Programs Without GRE or GMAT Requirements?
The best no-GRE online journalism program is not the one with the easiest application; it is the one that matches your career goal, budget, schedule, and current skill level. Students should compare programs as investments, not just admissions opportunities.
Use this step-by-step process to narrow your options before applying:
- Confirm accreditation first. Verify institutional accreditation and check whether journalism-specific accreditation or professional recognition matters for your goals.
- Match the curriculum to your career target. Reporting, editing, data journalism, documentary, sports media, public affairs, and strategic communication programs can have very different outcomes.
- Review the portfolio requirement. Favor programs that require publishable work, capstones, internships, practicums, or faculty-edited projects.
- Calculate total cost. Include tuition, fees, software, equipment, books, travel, loan interest, and the number of credits required.
- Ask about the online format. Find out whether courses are asynchronous, synchronous, accelerated, cohort-based, or self-paced.
- Compare faculty and advising support. Look for instructors with current newsroom, media, research, or production experience in your area of interest.
- Check career support. Ask about internship access, alumni networks, portfolio review, newsroom partnerships, and job-search help.
- Verify the test policy in writing. Admissions pages can lag behind policy changes, so ask whether the GRE or GMAT is test-free, optional, or waived only under certain conditions.
If you are earlier in your education journey, compare transfer-friendly associate degrees before committing to a full journalism bachelor's program. This can be a practical route when you need lower-cost general education credits, but only if the credits transfer cleanly into the journalism degree you want.
Students should also ask admissions counselors direct questions before enrolling. Good questions include: How many credits are required? Are internships available to online students? What does the final portfolio include? Are courses taught by full-time faculty, working professionals, or both? What technology is required? How often are online courses offered? What happens if a student needs to pause enrollment?
Other Things You Should Know About Journalism
Yes. Many online journalism programs accept beginners, especially at the bachelor's level or in professionally oriented master's programs. You may need to submit academic writing, explain your goals clearly, and show that you understand the workload and ethics of journalism.
Usually, students need a reliable computer, strong internet access, and basic audio or video capability. Multimedia courses may require editing software, a smartphone with a good camera, an external microphone, or other tools depending on the course.
It can, but only if the program is designed around publishable assignments, reporting projects, multimedia production, or a capstone. Before enrolling, ask to see examples of student work or portfolio expectations.
Yes. AP Style remains widely used in U.S. newsrooms and many communications roles. Even when a workplace uses its own style guide, learning AP Style helps students write clearly, consistently, and professionally.
- Online MBA Programs with No GMAT Requirement: Best Schools for 2025 https://www.onlinemastersdegrees.org/best-programs/mba-programs/no-gmat/
- 2025 Online Master’s in Communication Programs No GRE Required https://www.mastersincommunications.com/faqs/online-masters-in-communication-gre-requirements
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- From Newsrooms to Boardrooms: 10 High-Impact Jobs You Can Land With a Journalism Degree https://www.ucumberlands.edu/blog/high-impact-jobs-with-a-journalism-degree
- 2025 Most Affordable Online Journalism Degrees https://www.onlineu.com/most-affordable-colleges/journalism-degrees
- Regionally Accredited Online Colleges: What You Need to Know | Tiffin University https://go.tiffin.edu/blog/regionally-accredited-online-colleges-what-you-need-to-know/
- St. Bonaventure University https://www.sbu.edu/academics/master-of-arts-in-digital-journalism
