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2022 Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in California

22 Colleges in California
549 Master's Degrees
$55,733 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you plan on getting your master's degree in communication and media studies, you won't be alone since the degree program is ranked #43 in the country in terms of popularity. As a result, there are many colleges that offer the degree, making your choice of school a hard one.

In 2022, College Factual analyzed 22 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in California ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 549 master's degrees in communication and media studies to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Other Rankings

Choosing a Great Communication & Media Studies School for Your Master's Degree

Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in California The communications master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. As an aid in helping you pick the right school for you, we created our Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in California ranking.

Being popular does not always equate to overall quality, but a school with a large number of communication and media studies students usually has them for a reason. Sometimes this is because the school offers a great educational experience, it is a good value, or it is highly focused on the program.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Associate Degrees in Communications
Bachelor's Degrees in Communications
Doctor's Degrees in Communications
Overall Popularity in Communications

This is not our only ranking, nor the only degree level we have ranked. In addition to this ranking, you may want to take at the rankings for different degree levels as called out above. You can also narrow your search by location by filtering for a certain area of the country. Plus, you can view our other rankings for communication and media studies.


 

The following list ranks the most popular colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in communication and media studies.

10 Most Well Attended Schools for Communications Students Working on Their Master's

1
289 Annual Master's Degrees
#2 Best Quality In CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

University of Southern California is a popular decision for students interested in a master's degree in communication and media studies. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for master's degrees in communication and media studies in California.

There were approximately 289 communication and media studies individuals who graduated with this degree at USC in the most recent year we have data available.

Those communication and media studies students who get their master's degree from University of Southern California make $4,667 more than the standard communications grad.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from University of Southern California

2
38 Annual Master's Degrees
#10 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Every student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in communication and media studies needs to take a look at California State University - Fullerton. Cal State Fullerton is a fairly large public university located in the large suburb of Fullerton.

There were approximately 38 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at Cal State Fullerton in the most recent year we have data available.

Master's graduates who receive their degree from the communications program earn around $55,500 for their early career.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from California State University - Fullerton

3
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
28 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Best Quality In CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

Stanford University is one of the most popular schools in the country for getting a master's degree in communication and media studies. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #1 in quality for master's degrees in communication and media studies in California.

There were approximately 28 communication and media studies individuals who graduated with this degree at Stanford in the most recent year we have data available.

Master's recipients from the communication and media studies major at Stanford University earn $18,667 more than the typical college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from Stanford University

4
National University crest
National University
La Jolla, CA
26 Annual Master's Degrees
#12 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

National University is one of the most popular schools in the country for getting a master's degree in communication and media studies. National University is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of La Jolla.

There were roughly 26 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at National University in the most recent data year.

After graduation, communications master's recipients usually earn around $53,100 in their early careers.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from National University

5
25 Annual Master's Degrees
#8 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the city of San Diego, SDSU is a public university with a very large student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #8 in quality for master's degrees in communication and media studies in California.

There were approximately 25 communication and media studies individuals who graduated with this degree at SDSU in the most recent data year.

Master's graduates who receive their degree from the communications program make around $49,000 for their early career.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from San Diego State University

6
USFCA crest
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
24 Annual Master's Degrees
#7 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

USFCA is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of San Francisco. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #7 in quality for master's degrees in communication and media studies in California.

There were approximately 24 communication and media studies individuals who graduated with this degree at USFCA in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from University of San Francisco

7
23 Annual Master's Degrees
#13 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

CSUN is a very large public university located in the city of Northridge.

There were roughly 23 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at CSUN in the most recent year we have data available.

Students who graduate with their master's from the communications program report average early career income of $42,000.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from California State University - Northridge

8
17 Annual Master's Degrees
#9 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State is a public university with a very large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #9 in quality for master's degrees in communication and media studies in California.

There were approximately 17 communication and media studies individuals who graduated with this degree at San Jose State in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from San Jose State University

9
16 Annual Master's Degrees
#16 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the city of Los Angeles, Cal State LA is a public university with a very large student population.

There were about 16 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at Cal State LA in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from California State University - Los Angeles

10
13 Annual Master's Degrees
#11 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Cal Baptist is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Riverside.

There were roughly 13 communication and media studies students who graduated with this degree at Cal Baptist in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in communication and media studies from California Baptist University

Best Communication & Media Studies Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Washington 184 68
Oregon 151 11
Nevada 100 15
Hawaii 84 23
Alaska 53 6

View All Rankings >

One of 5 majors within the Communication & Journalism area of study, Communication & Media Studies has other similar majors worth exploring.

Communications Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Other Communication & Media Studies 299
Speech Communication 205
Communications 44
Communication & Media Studies 1

Related Major Annual Graduates
Radio, Television & Digital Communication 178
Public Relations & Advertising 109
Journalism 86

Notes and References

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