Journalist Course Fees 2026: Government and Private Costs
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Journalism course fees in India generally range from INR 3,499 to INR 1,00,000 per annum, depending on the academic level and college, with specialized PG and MA programs ranging up to INR 3,50,000.
Prospective students can evaluate fee structures for undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and online journalism certifications, compare costs across government and private institutions, analyze regional college options, and navigate step-by-step admission procedures.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Average Annual Fee Range | INR 3,499 – INR 1,00,000 per annum |
| UG Course Duration | 3 Years |
| PG Course Duration | 2 Years |
| UG Eligibility | 10+2 with minimum 50-55% aggregate marks |
| PG Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree with minimum 50-55% aggregate marks |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 3 – 10 LPA |
| Top Entrance Exams | IIMC, Jamia Millia Islamia, Symbiosis, IP University, MICAT |
Journalism Fees in Government Colleges
At least 803 colleges offer journalism programs in India, including at least 62 government colleges that offer subsidized tuition rates. Among government institutions with reported fee data, the median total course fee stands at ₹30,000, with the middle half of government colleges charging total fees between ₹12,720 and ₹48,190. Public universities provide affordable pathways into print, broadcast, and digital media education without high financial outlay.
Top public universities like Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi charge ₹20,710 for total course fees, while Delhi University offers journalism programs for ₹21,390. Other affordable government institutions include Calicut University at ₹5,255, Institute for Excellence in Higher Education in Bhopal at ₹6,000, and Indira Gandhi National Open University in Delhi at ₹12,000.
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calicut University | Calicut | Government | ₹5,255 |
| Institute for Excellence in Higher Education | Bhopal | Government | ₹6,000 |
| Magadh University | Gaya | Government | ₹6,192 |
| Baruipur College | South 24 Parganas | Government | ₹6,210 |
| Shri Atal Bihari Vajpai Govt. Arts and Commerce College | Indore | Government | ₹7,066 |
| T.M. Jacob Memorial Government College Manimalakunnu | Ernakulam | Government | ₹7,190 |
| Gujarat University | Ahmedabad | Government | ₹7,860 |
| IDSG Government College | Chikmagalur | Government | ₹10,500 |
| Indira Gandhi National Open University | Delhi | Government | ₹12,000 |
| Government Jamuna Prasad Verma Post Graduate Arts and Commerce College | Bilaspur | Government | ₹12,000 |
Journalism Fees in Private Colleges
Private institutions account for at least 228 colleges offering media and journalism education in India. The median total course fee across private journalism colleges is ₹90,000, with the middle half ranging from ₹53,250 to ₹1.81 lakh.
Prominent private institutions offer varying fee structures alongside active campus recruitment. For instance, Kishinchand Chellaram College in Mumbai charges ₹1.16 lakh with an average placement package of 4 LPA, while Pillai College of Arts, Commerce and Science in Navi Mumbai charges ₹99,484 with average placements at 3.6 LPA. Higher fee tiers are observed in private institutions like Fergusson College in Pune at ₹2.95 lakh and Jyoti Nivas College in Bangalore at ₹2.28 lakh.
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee | Average package |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kishinchand Chellaram College | Mumbai | Private (aided) | ₹1.16 lakh | 4 LPA |
| Pillai College of Arts, Commerce and Science | Navi Mumbai | Private (aided) | ₹99,484 | 3.6 LPA |
| Agra College | Agra | Private (aided) | ₹32,420 | 3.5 LPA |
| St. Francis College for Women | Hyderabad | Private (aided) | ₹1.83 lakh | 3.46 LPA |
| Jyoti Nivas College | Bangalore | Private (aided) | ₹2.28 lakh | 3.38 LPA |
| Fergusson College | Pune | Private (aided) | ₹2.95 lakh | 3 LPA |
| Madras Christian College | Chennai | Private (aided) | ₹1.15 lakh | 3 LPA |
| Ethiraj College for Women | Chennai | Private (aided) | ₹82,184 | 2.67 LPA |
| Farook College | Kozhikode | Private (aided) | — | 2.4 LPA |
| Christ Academy Institute for Advanced Studies | Bangalore | Private | ₹1.50 lakh | 2 LPA |
Top Journalism Colleges and Fees
Leading journalism colleges in India selection rely on university-level or national entrance tests such as the IIMC entrance test, Jamia Millia Islamia entrance exam, Symbiosis entrance test, MICAT, and IP University entrance test. Popular hubs for media education include premier centers such as the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) New Delhi, AJK Mass Communication Research Centre New Delhi, Xavier Institute of Communications (XIC) Mumbai, Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication Pune, Christ University Bangalore, and Amity School of Communication Noida.
Geographically, journalism programs are widely distributed across India, with Karnataka leading state counts with 124 colleges, followed by Maharashtra with 80, Uttar Pradesh with 75, Kerala with 58, Tamil Nadu with 55, and Delhi NCR with 46 colleges. Major urban centers offer varying fee brackets, such as Bangalore ranging from ₹27,040 to ₹10.64 lakh, Delhi spanning ₹12,000 to ₹5.10 lakh, and Mumbai ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹4.35 lakh.
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee | NIRF rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamia Millia Islamia University | Delhi | Government | ₹20,710 | 4 (Overall, 2025) |
| Delhi University | Delhi | Government | ₹21,390 | 5 (Overall, 2025) |
| Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi | Government | ₹30,000 | 6 (Overall, 2025) |
| Presidency College Bangalore | Bangalore | Private | ₹2.00 lakh | 7 (Overall, 2021) |
| St. Xavier’s College Kolkata | Kolkata | Private (aided) | ₹1.93 lakh | 8 (Overall, 2025) |
| Jadavpur University | Kolkata | Government | ₹26,200 | 9 (Overall, 2025) |
| SRM Institute of Technology | Kanchipuram | Private | ₹1.60 lakh | 11 (Overall, 2025) |
| Loyola College | Chennai | Private | ₹1.86 lakh | 14 (Overall, 2025) |
| Madras Christian College | Chennai | Private (aided) | ₹1.15 lakh | 16 (Overall, 2025) |
| City | Colleges | Fee range | Well-known options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangalore | 72 | ₹27,040 – ₹10.64 lakh | Christ University, Jain University |
| Delhi | 46 | ₹12,000 – ₹5.10 lakh | Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi University |
| Mumbai | 30 | ₹30,000 – ₹4.35 lakh | Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai, Mumbai University |
| Chennai | 28 | ₹20,000 – ₹7.08 lakh | University of Madras, Loyola College |
| Kolkata | 27 | ₹19,050 – ₹7.53 lakh | Jadavpur University, Amity University Kolkata |
| Jaipur | 24 | ₹30,000 – ₹2.48 lakh | Manipal University Jaipur, University of Rajasthan |
| Pune | 22 | ₹30,000 – ₹9.17 lakh | Fergusson College, Symbiosis International University Pune |
| Noida | 19 | ₹25,000 – ₹4.68 lakh | Amity University Noida, Sharda University |
Diploma and PG Diploma Journalism Fees
Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma courses in journalism provide short-term, industry-oriented training lasting between 1 and 2 years. A 1-year Diploma in Journalism generally costs between INR 10,000 and INR 50,000, whereas a 2-year Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication ranges from INR 14,000 to INR 80,000. These diploma choices cater to students seeking direct skill development in news reporting, editing, and feature writing.
For candidates holding a bachelor’s degree, PG Diploma programs offer focused specialization in field reporting and broadcast news. A 1-year PG Diploma in Journalism costs between INR 13,000 and INR 90,000, while a PG Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication ranges from INR 30,000 to INR 1,00,000. Specialized PG Diplomas in Broadcast Journalism cost between INR 12,000 and INR 1,00,000.
| Course Name | Duration | Average Fee Range |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma in Journalism | 1 Year | INR 10,000 – INR 50,000 |
| Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication | 2 Years | INR 14,000 – INR 80,000 |
| PG Diploma in Journalism | 1 Year | INR 13,000 – INR 90,000 |
| PG Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication | 1 Year | INR 30,000 – INR 1,00,000 |
| PG Diploma Broadcast Journalism | 1 Year | INR 12,000 – INR 1,00,000 |
Online Journalism Classes and Certificate Fees
Online certificate courses provide flexible avenues to learn media basics, writing standards, and digital publishing. Fees for online journalism certifications range from free offerings on platforms like Coursera (Become a Journalist) and Alison (Introduction to Journalism- Revised) up to INR 3,580 on EdX for Journalism through Media. Professional short courses like Journalism Skills for Beginners on Udemy cost INR 1,299, whereas offline certificate courses average around INR 20,000.
Distance and open learning universities also offer flexible journalism degree and diploma credentials across various budgets. Options include Gujarat Forensic Sciences University in Gandhi Nagar at ₹40,000, School of Distance Learning Jagan Nath University in Jaipur at ₹55,000, and Institute of Open and Distance Education Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya in Bhopal at ₹19,145.
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gujarat Forensic Sciences University | Gandhi Nagar | — | ₹40,000 |
| School of Distance Learning, Jagan Nath University | Jaipur | — | ₹55,000 |
| Institute of Open and Distance Education, Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya | Bhopal | — | ₹19,145 |
| Directorate of Distance Education, I.K Gujral Punjab Technical University | Jalandhar | — | ₹2.06 lakh |
| College of Food Technology, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University | Thrissur | University | — |
How to Apply for Journalism Admission in 2026: Step by Step
- Check Eligibility Requirements: Verify that you have passed 10+2 with at least 50-55% marks for UG/Diploma courses or completed a graduation degree with 50-55% for PG courses.
- Select Journalism Program and Specialization: Choose between Certificate, Diploma, UG (BA Journalism, BJMC), PG (MA, MJMC, PG Diploma), or Ph.D. depending on your background.
- Register for Entrance Examinations: Apply for institute or university entrance exams such as IIMC, Jamia Millia Islamia, Symbiosis, MICAT, or IP University entrance test.
- Submit University Application Forms: Fill out application forms for target colleges such as Delhi University, IIMC Delhi, XIC Mumbai, Christ University, or GGSIPU.
- Participate in Selection and Merit Evaluation: Admissions are granted based on 10+2 merit scores or performance in university entrance examinations.
- Pay Course Fees to Confirm Seat: Pay the required course fees to your institution to complete enrollment.
| What to do | Where | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Compare colleges, fees and cutoffs | Journalism colleges in India | findmycollege.com |
Admissions to Indian journalism programs are based on 10+2 merit or university entrance test performance. Candidates can select from certificate, diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral courses based on their eligibility.
FAQs
How many years does a Journalism course take?
Undergraduate journalism courses like BA Journalism and BJMC take 3 years. Postgraduate degrees like MA Journalism take 2 years, while diploma and PG diploma programs take 1 to 2 years.
What are the fees for journalism courses after 12th?
After 12th, BA Journalism fees range from INR 30,000 to INR 1,50,000, BJMC fees range from INR 50,000 to INR 1,00,000, and BA in Journalism and Mass Communication fees range from INR 50,000 to INR 2,00,000.
Where can I find online journalism classes?
Online journalism courses are available on Coursera and Alison (free), Udemy (‘Journalism Skills for Beginners’ at INR 1,299), and EdX (‘Journalism through Media’ at INR 3,580).
What is the average salary after completing a Journalism course?
Initial average salary ranges between INR 3,80,000 and INR 4,00,000 per annum. Overall salaries for journalism graduates typically span between INR 3 LPA and INR 10 LPA depending on role and college.
How to become a journalist after graduation?
After graduation in any discipline, candidates can enroll in a 2-year MA in Journalism/MJMC or a 1-year PG Diploma in Journalism through merit or entrance exams like IIMC or Jamia Millia Islamia.
What is the fee structure for PG Diploma in Journalism?
PG Diploma in Journalism fees range between INR 13,000 and INR 90,000 per annum, while PG Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication fees range from INR 30,000 to INR 1,00,000.
