Every year, thousands of students in Haryana finish their board exams wondering if a career in media is actually realistic for someone outside Delhi or Mumbai. The good news is that it absolutely is! Over the past few years, Haryana has developed a genuine cluster of colleges and universities offering solid journalism courses, backed by decent faculty, real studio setups, and a location that puts students within driving distance of the country’s biggest newsrooms.
Haryana surrounds Delhi on three sides, and Delhi happens to be home to most of the country’s major news channels, newspapers, and digital newsrooms. That location alone gives students here an advantage. Internship opportunities, guest lectures from working journalists, and access to major newsrooms are all just a short drive away for colleges in Gurugram, Faridabad, and Sonipat. Add to that a handful of well-established public universities in Kurukshetra and Rohtak, and you get a fairly complete ecosystem for anyone serious about a media career.
If you’re unsure where to apply, this guide walks you through it step by step. We’ll cover what journalism courses after 12th really involve, which ten colleges in Haryana are genuinely worth considering, how the admission process works, and what kind of jobs and salaries you can expect once you graduate.
Why Study Journalism in Haryana
A lot of students assume that if they want to study journalism & mass communication, they have to move to Mumbai or Delhi. That is not entirely true anymore. Several colleges and universities in Haryana have modern studios, editing labs, and faculty who have actually worked in the industry rather than just taught about it from textbooks.
Following are a few practical reasons why Haryana works well for journalism aspirants:
- Lower cost of living compared to Delhi or Mumbai, especially in cities like Rohtak, Kurukshetra, and Bhiwani
- Close proximity to Delhi NCR, which means easy access to internships at national media houses
- A mix of government universities with low fees and private universities with better infrastructure
- Growing local and regional media houses that need trained journalists for Hindi and Punjabi news content
- Placement cells that are increasingly tying up with digital media startups, not just traditional print and TV
If your goal is to build a career in journalism without taking on heavy education loans, Haryana gives you a realistic middle path.
Journalism Courses After 12th: Explore the Options
Before jumping into the college list, it is very important to understand what you are actually signing up for. Journalism courses after 12th usually fall into a few categories.
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication (BAJMC or BJMC) is the most common route. It is a three-year degree covering reporting, editing, media law, public relations, and increasingly, digital and social media content.
Bachelor of Mass Communication (BMC) is similar but sometimes leans more toward advertising, corporate communication, and media production rather than pure news reporting.
Bachelor of Journalism (BJ or BCJ) tends to be more focused specifically on news writing, broadcast journalism, and reporting skills.
Diploma and certificate courses are shorter options, usually six months to a year, aimed at students who want quick, practical training or who are already pursuing another degree and want journalism as an add-on skill.
If you are set on a long-term career in this field, a full degree in a journalism and mass communication course gives you a much broader base than a short diploma. It covers everything from the history of media to current digital tools, and most colleges and universities now include hands-on modules in video editing, podcasting, and social media strategy alongside traditional reporting.
What to Look for Before You Pick a College
Not every college that lists “journalism” in its brochure is worth your three years and your money. Here is what actually matters:
- Faculty with real industry experience: A professor who worked at a newspaper or news channel for a decade will teach you things no textbook covers.
- Studio and lab facilities: Journalism today is not just about writing. You need access to camera equipment, editing software, and radio or podcast setups.
- Internship tie-ups: Colleges that have relationships with actual media houses give you a head start most others cannot.
- Placement record: Ask for actual numbers, not just names of a few companies that visited once.
- Location: Being near Delhi NCR genuinely helps if you plan to intern at national publications or TV channels during your degree.
With that in mind, here is a closer look at ten institutions across Haryana that consistently come up when people search for journalism courses, journalism courses after 12th, or a solid journalism and mass communication course.
Top 10 Journalism Colleges in Haryana
1. O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat
O.P. Jindal Global University has built a name for itself fairly quickly. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in journalism and communication, along with research-focused options at the doctoral level. The campus has modern media labs, and the faculty includes people who have worked across print, television, and digital newsrooms. Talking about its fees, the fee structure is on the higher side, but students benefit from a wide alumni network and strong industry connections in Delhi NCR.
2. Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra
Through its Institute of Mass Communication and Media Technology, Kurukshetra University offers BA, MA, MSc, and postgraduate diploma programmes in journalism and mass communication. This is one of the oldest and most affordable options in the state, run by a public university with decades of academic credibility. Seats are limited and admission usually happens through merit or a university-conducted entrance process, so it tends to attract serious, motivated students. If budget is a major factor for you, this university should be high on your list.
3. Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak
MDU Rohtak has long been a preferred choice for students in Haryana who want a government university degree in mass communication without moving too far from home. Its programmes cover journalism fundamentals, as well as subjects such as public relations, advertising, and media research. Fees are budget-friendly, and the degree carries solid recognition across the state, particularly for students planning to appear in exams for government or PSU communication roles later on.
4. Chaudhary Bansi Lal University (CBLU), Bhiwani
This university offers an MA in Journalism and Mass Communication and has built a reasonably strong reputation in the region. Since it is a public university, the fees remain low compared to private institutions, making it accessible for students from smaller towns around Bhiwani, Hisar, and nearby districts. It is a good fit for students who want a postgraduate specialisation after completing a general bachelor’s degree elsewhere.
5. YMCA Faridabad (J.C. Bose University of Science and Technology)
While YMCA Faridabad is better known for its technical programmes, its mass communication offerings have grown steadily and now attract a fair number of students each year. Being located in Faridabad means students are very close to Delhi, which makes internships at national media houses much more accessible during the course. The university’s general academic reputation also adds weight to the degree.
6. K.R. Mangalam University, Gurugram
Located in Sohna, part of the larger Gurugram region, K R Mangalam University runs a full-fledged school of journalism with modern infrastructure. Gurugram itself has become something of a media and corporate communication hub, with several digital news startups and PR agencies setting up offices there. Students get a practical advantage simply by being based in a city where these companies are hiring.
7. Amity University, Gurugram
Amity has built a large, well-resourced campus in Gurugram with dedicated facilities for mass communication students, including production studios and editing suites. Being part of a large, established private university group, it offers strong placement support and tie-ups with media organisations, though the fee structure reflects the private university model. Students who want a more corporate, structured campus experience tend to gravitate here.
8. Apeejay Stya University, Sohna
This university runs a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication with an option to study in Hindi, which is a fairly unique offering in the region and useful for students who want to work in regional and Hindi language media, a segment that continues to grow rapidly across North India. The campus is relatively new but has been investing steadily in media infrastructure.
9. Government College, Sector 9, Gurugram
For students who want a solid, affordable, government-run option right in the middle of Gurugram, this college offers a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication at a fraction of the cost of private universities nearby. It may not have the flashiest infrastructure, but the location gives students easy access to internships and part-time opportunities with local and national media outlets operating out of Gurugram.
10. Om Sterling Global University, Hisar
Om Sterling offers both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in journalism and mass communication, along with research-level options. It is a good choice for students based in the Hisar and surrounding regions who want a full-time, structured programme without relocating to Delhi NCR. The university has been steadily expanding its media lab facilities to keep up with demand for digital content skills.
Government vs Private Journalism Colleges: Which Should You Choose
This dilemma is one of the most common questions students ask, and honestly, there is no single right answer. It depends on your priorities.
Government universities like Kurukshetra University, MDU Rohtak, and CBLU Bhiwani charge a fraction of what private universities do. A full three-year degree at a government college can cost less than a single year at some private campuses. The trade-off is usually infrastructure. Government colleges may not have the newest cameras or the fanciest studios, but their academic rigour and faculty experience are often just as strong.
Private universities like Jindal, Amity, K.R. Mangalam, and Apeejay Stya tend to offer better facilities, more structured placement drives, and closer connections with media companies through organised internship programmes. You pay more, but you also get more hand-holding through the process, which matters if you are unsure how to break into the industry on your own.
If money is tight and you are self-motivated enough to chase your own internships, a government college is a smart, practical choice. If you want a more guided experience with better infrastructure and are willing to pay for it, the private route makes sense.
Eligibility and Admission Process
Most journalism courses after 12th require you to have passed your senior secondary examination from a recognised board, generally with English as one of your subjects. A minimum aggregate of around 45 to 50% is common, though this varies by institution and sometimes by category.
For postgraduate programmes, you typically need a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, though some universities give slight preference to students who already hold a degree in media, arts, or communication.
Admission generally happens in one of two ways. Public universities often use merit-based admission, sometimes combined with a university-level entrance test, while private universities may conduct their own entrance exam or personal interview, sometimes alongside a written test that checks basic English, general knowledge, and current affairs.
A few things worth doing before you apply anywhere:
- Read newspapers regularly for at least a few months before your interview or entrance test
- Practice writing short news reports and opinion pieces on your own
- Follow a couple of good YouTube news channels or podcasts to understand different reporting styles
- Prepare to answer why you specifically want to study journalism, since almost every interview panel asks this
Career Scope After Journalism and Mass Communication
Once people hear “journalism,” they usually think of TV reporters or newspaper writers, but the field has expanded a lot in the last decade. A journalism and mass communication course today can lead you toward several different paths.
News reporting and anchoring remain the most visible career, whether in print, television, or on digital news platforms.
Content writing and digital journalism has grown massively, with news websites, YouTube channels, and independent media outlets hiring writers who understand both storytelling and search visibility.
Public relations and corporate communication is another strong option, where companies hire media graduates to manage their public image, press releases, and media relationships.
Advertising and copywriting roles are common too, since the core skills, writing clearly and persuasively, translate well into brand communication.
Social media management has become almost its own career track, with brands and news organisations both needing people who understand how to create and distribute content across platforms.
Starting salaries vary quite a bit depending on the city and the organisation. Someone joining a regional media house might start lower than someone who lands a role at a national digital publication or a corporate communications team in Gurugram. Experience, a strong portfolio of published work, and internships tend to matter more than the specific college name once you are a few years into your career.
Conclusion
Haryana has quietly become a reasonable place to study journalism, sitting close enough to Delhi to give students real industry exposure while still offering more affordable options than the capital itself. Whether you choose a government university like Kurukshetra or MDU Rohtak, or a private campus like Jindal or Amity, what matters most in the end is how much effort you put into building a portfolio, chasing internships, and actually writing or reporting on your own outside the classroom. The college gets you in the door. What you do with your time there decides where you end up.
Also Read: Top 10 B.Sc. Agriculture Colleges in Delhi NCR for 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best journalism course in Haryana?
There is no single “best” course since it depends on your budget and goals. For affordability, Kurukshetra University and MDU Rohtak are strong choices. For infrastructure and industry connections, Jindal School of Journalism and Communication and Amity University Gurugram stand out.
Can I do journalism courses after 12th with any stream?
Yes. Journalism and mass communication courses generally accept students from arts, commerce, and science backgrounds, as long as you meet the minimum marks requirement set by the college.
Is journalism a good career option in India today?
Yes, though the field has changed a lot. Traditional print jobs have reduced somewhat, but digital journalism, content creation, and corporate communication roles have grown significantly, creating new kinds of opportunities for media graduates.
What is the difference between BA Journalism and Mass Communication and BJMC?
In most cases, these are simply different names that universities use for very similar programmes. Always check the actual syllabus rather than relying on the course title alone.
Do I need to know English fluently to study journalism?
Strong English skills help, especially for national media roles, but many Haryana colleges also train students for Hindi journalism, which is a large and growing field on its own.
