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2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k

20 Ranked Colleges
549 Degrees Awarded
$24,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Communications Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $75-$110k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 68,079 communication and media studies students received their degree, making the major the 9th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, communication and media studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,728 and had an average of $24,931 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 13,425 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,239 and $21,690 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 549 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking, we looked at 20 colleges that offer a degree in communication and media studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent communication and media studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the communication and media studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Communication & Media Studies Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree communications students whose families make $75-$110k.

Top 20 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $75-$110k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k list. Stanford is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Stanford also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Stanford

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Los Angeles landed the #2 spot on the list. Cal State LA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 16 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA also took the #12 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Cal State LA

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fullerton landed the #3 spot on the list. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 38 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State Fullerton, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Cal State Fullerton

#18 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fresno. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 9 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581.

Full Fresno State Communication & Media Studies Report

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Davis. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k list. UC Davis is located in Davis, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

UC Davis also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of California - Davis

California State University - Northridge landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. California State University - Northridge is located in Northridge, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

CSUN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at CSUN

With a ranking of #7, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k list. California State University - Long Beach is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 4 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB also took the #15 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at California State University - Long Beach

#8

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#3 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. UCSB is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 2 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree communications students whose families make $75-$110k list, UCSB has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UCSB

#9

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school handed out 25 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2019-2020.

SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full San Diego State University Communication & Media Studies Report

#10

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California
#21 in overall quality

California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #10. California State University - San Bernardino is located in San Bernardino, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

CSUSB also took the #21 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Bernardino are $17,936, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at California State University - San Bernardino

#6 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

UCSD also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of California - San Diego

#17 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #12. Sac State is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 5 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree communications students whose families make $75-$110k list, Sac State has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Sac State Communication & Media Studies Report

#13

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This large school is located in San Jose, California, and it awarded 17 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Jose State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at San Jose State University

#19 in overall quality

California State University - East Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #14. This fairly large school is located in Hayward, California, and it awarded 3 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State East Bay did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State East Bay are $17,828, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - East Bay Communication & Media Studies Report

#15

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k list. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 8 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #14. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at SFSU

#16

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 289 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at USC

California State University - Chico landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. California State University - Chico is a public institution located in Chico, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Chico State also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Chico are $18,802, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Chico Communication & Media Studies Report

#18

California Baptist University

Riverside, California

With a ranking of #18, California Baptist University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k list. California Baptist University is located in Riverside, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Cal Baptist not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Baptist are $14,140, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Cal Baptist

#19

Pepperdine University

Malibu, California
#7 in overall quality

Pepperdine University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #19. Malibu, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree communications students whose families make $75-$110k list, Pepperdine has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Pepperdine University are $36,320, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Pepperdine University Communication & Media Studies Report

#20

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#5 in overall quality

University of San Francisco did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #20. University of San Francisco is located in San Francisco, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

USFCA also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USFCA are $26,710.

Full USFCA Communication & Media Studies Report

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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