Online journalism degree scholarships make it possible to pay for your education, even if you’re already strapped for cash. Whether you’re going to college straight from high school or heading back to school after years of being in the workforce, these programs can be expensive without financial aid. Scholarships are a great way to pay for the education you need to qualify for journalism jobs such as reporting, editing, publishing, and writing.

Journalism is one of the most popular topics when it comes to scholarships, and a number of organizations offer opportunities for students. Here are just some of the groups that have money set aside to help journalism students pay for their education:

• Inter American Press Association Scholarship Fund
• Association for Women in Sports Media
• BlackNews.com
• Dallas-Fort Worth Network of Hispanic Communicators
• Databazaar Scholarship Fund
• Dow Jones Newspaper Fund
• Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship
• The Freedom Forum
• National Association of Black Journalists
• Joanna Bistany Memorial Scholarship Program
• National Association of Science Writers
• White House Correspondents’ Association
• National Press Club
• Ted Scripps Fellowships in Environmental Journalism
• Ohio Newspapers Foundation
• National Press Photographers Foundation
• Native American Journalists Association
• Overseas Press Club Foundation
• Yarka Vendrinska Photojournalism Memorial Fund

Along with this long list of funds and organizations, there are a number of groups who offer general scholarships regardless of your major. Some require that you be involved in an English or writing field, while others are open to all majors.

With most journalism scholarships, you’ll be required to write an essay based on an annual theme, your life and education plans, or another topic of choice. This essay will put you in competition with other journalism majors (and, in some cases, other students who are majoring in different fields), with just the top essay writers receiving money for college. Your scholarship essays will determine how much money you receive for college, so they need to be extremely strong. Here are some tips for writing the perfect essay:

• Follow the directions very carefully, remembering to send in your application and essay before the deadline passes.
• Write from the heart, making your essay as personal and honest as possible.
• Have a teacher or someone else you trust edit and proofread your essay so you send in a clean copy
• Never plagiarize or lie in your essay.
• Make sure that you answer the question or address the topic clearly and gracefully.
• Focus more on correct grammar and eloquent writing than ten dollar words

Along with organizations, you can find a number of scholarships from both the government and from your online college. Many government departments and related organizations offer journalism or general scholarships to talented students, and schools will often cut your tuition costs in half – or more – if you qualify. In some cases, you don’t even need to write an essay, so there’s no reason not to apply to as many scholarship opportunities as possible. The less you have to pay for school, the more you can focus on your education instead of worrying about bills.

Journalism and writing are skills valued not only among news publishers, but in fact across all business careers and many other specialized non-business professions. The ability to communicate one's ideas through the written word is key to any successful career. Below is a list of accredited schools who have online programs that can help you start your career in journalism.

Top Online Journalism Schools

AA in Communication BS in Communication	University of Phoenix — The University of Phoenix offers its communications programs at two degree levels, Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Science. The associate's degree-level communications program develops a foundation for understanding effective exchange of information regarding journalistic news presentations for print, Web, and broadcast media. The bachelor's degree-level program builds on these lessons and helps develop critical thinking and problem solving skills that journalists will use in a career.
Freelance Writing	Penn Foster Career School — While not a degree, the Freelance Writing program from Penn Foster Career School nonetheless prepares students for jobs in freelance writing, including blogging, news writing, journalism, fiction writing, editing, and more. Jobs with magazines, newspapers, trade journals, and more are just some of the many types of careers available to freelance writers.
BS in Communication	Walden University — Walden University offers a Bachelor of Science degree in communication that combines communication theory with practical skills. This particular degree focuses on journalistic aspects of new media, including Web publishing, online video, podcasts, Web conferencing, and more.
BA in Communication Studies BA in English/Language Arts	Ashford University — Ashford's bachelor's degree program in communication studies is a good fit for anyone pursuing a career in business, communication management, media, journalism, or public policy. Upon completion of this program, graduates are highly valued and sought after in the job market for all of these industries. For individuals who have already completed some college courses or an associate's degree, Ashford allows you to transfer in up to 99 approved credits to accelerate your degree completion. Ashford also offers a similar degree in English/Language Arts that is geared toward individuals interested in more of a liberal arts education.
BS in Communication Advanced Start BS in Comm	Kaplan University — For aspiring journalists seeking a communications degree, Kaplan University offers two such programs, the BS in Communication/Organization Communication and the Advanced Start BS in Communications for students who have already earned an associate's or bachelor's degree.
Journalism Certificate	University of Massachusetts — UMassOnline offers a Certificate of Journalism that teaches students the reporting, writing, and online research skills they will need to succeed in a job as a journalist. Coursework includes a study of the state of online journalism and the future of information technology.
BA in Communication	Regent University — Students of Regent University's bachelor's in communication degree program study communication in all roles of life and learn to apply their knowledge to emerging technologies of new journalism media, including podcasting, social media, blogs, and more. Being a Christian university, Regent has built a reputation for preparing its students spiritually as well as academically for their careers.
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