Medill to offer loan repayment assistance program
MSJ graduates working in a local US newsroom are eligible
Beginning in 2026, Medill, in partnership with the Columbia Journalism School, will offer its graduate journalism alumni assistance with loan repayment if they work for a U.S. local news organization.
The program is an expansion of the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) supported by a $3 million grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and piloted at Columbia Journalism School.
“Medill is known throughout the world for its work in supporting local news, and we are delighted to join Columbia in this effort to support journalism graduates who aspire to do vital reporting in local communities,” said Medill Dean Charles Whitaker. “Local media is essential to the health of our democracy.”
Since the program’s inception at CJS in 2023, more than 60 repayment awards have helped journalists build careers in local newsrooms nationwide, including The Texas Tribune, The Baltimore Banner, The Honolulu Civil Beat, New York Public Radio and more.
Graduates working full-time in U.S. local newsrooms who are within five years of their graduation date are eligible to apply. Those qualified may receive up to $30,000 per year for three years. To learn more about eligibility, visit the program page.