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New York, NY, August 23, 2025—The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York proudly welcomes the Class of 2026, with more than 60% of students attending tuition free.
Newmark J-School awarded more than $2.3 million in scholarships to the incoming class—the largest number of scholarships ever given in the school’s history. Approximately 90% of the incoming class are receiving scholarship support. This achievement brings the school closer to its goal of eliminating financial barriers for all journalism students.
Over half are students of color, more than 80 percent are domestic students, more than half are New York residents, and about one in five are graduates of CUNY and SUNY colleges.
These students are joining the profession at a pivotal moment in journalism, as the industry grapples with profound challenges while simultaneously embracing transformative opportunities.
“They represent the talent, curiosity, courage and entrepreneurial spirit that journalism needs today,” said Graciela Mochkofsky, Dean of the Newmark J-School. “We are proud to equip our students to serve the public at one of the most complex and dynamic periods in journalism history.”
The historic scholarship support enables these emerging journalists to focus on innovation and experimentation without the burden of debt. This freedom is essential as they prepare to tackle the industry’s most pressing challenges and develop solutions for rebuilding public trust in journalism.
The tuition-free campaign—made possible by the foundational $10 million gift from Craig Newmark Philanthropies, matching support from the City University of New York, and generous contributions from donors including the Ford Foundation, the Charles H. Revson Foundation, the Lorana Sullivan Foundation, the Hearst Foundations, Reuters, and the New York Community Trust—continues to transform access to journalism education.
Founded in 2006, the Newmark J-School is leading efforts to democratize journalism education as part of its broader capital campaign celebrating the school’s 20th anniversary in 2026. The tuition-free initiative remains the cornerstone of this campaign, which also supports new endowed chairs and innovative programs focused on emerging technologies, public trust rebuilding, journalist safety, and local news leadership development.
As the Class of 2026 begins their studies, they join a profession in transformation, equipped with the financial freedom to take risks, experiment with new approaches, and help chart the future of independent journalism in America.
Learn more about the tuition-free campaign and read an op-ed from Dean Graciela Mochkofsky in The New York Times.
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About the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY
The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY is a public graduate journalism school that prepares students from diverse economic, racial, and cultural backgrounds to produce high-quality journalism. The school offers 16-month master’s degree programs: M.A. in Journalism, M.A. in Engagement Journalism, and M.A. in Journalism – Bilingual Program (English/Spanish). The school’s J+ division offers a suite of executive training programs that train seasoned journalists to reimagine news business models, build news products, and step into leadership roles with an entrepreneurial mindset.
In 2024, the school launched a campaign to provide free tuition, in perpetuity, to all of its students. If you are interested in contributing to the tuition free campaign, please reach out to development@journalism.cuny.edu
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