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2023 Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California

85 Ranked Colleges
1,640 Degrees Awarded
$31,900 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 13,552 people earned their degree in journalism, making the major the 69th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, journalism graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $32,953 and had an average of $23,734 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 1,640 journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,623 and $21,695 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California” ranking analyzed 85 colleges that offered a degree in journalism. To top this list, a school must have a successful journalism program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Journalism Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Journalism Rankings Other Ranking Categories

The journalism school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california journalism students.

1
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Diego State University. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 170 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Journalism at SDSU

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Northridge. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California. California State University - Northridge is located in Northridge, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 161 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Journalism at CSUN

3
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

Out of the 85 schools in the Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern California landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Southern California is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 115 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Southern California Journalism Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California list. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 109 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read more about Journalism at California State University - Long Beach

5

Out of the 85 schools in the Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #5 spot on the list. Fresno State is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 85 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Journalism at Fresno State

6

With a ranking of #6, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California list. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, this large public school handed out 80 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Journalism Report

7
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California ranking. SFSU is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 61 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full San Francisco State University Journalism Report

8
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

With a ranking of #8, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California list. San Jose State is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 52 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Journalism at San Jose State

9

California State University - Chico came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California ranking. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school handed out 49 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Journalism at Chico State

10

11

California State University - Sacramento came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California ranking. Sac State is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 41 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Journalism at Sac State

12
Fullerton College crest
Fullerton College
Fullerton, California

Fullerton College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California ranking. Fullerton College is a fairly large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 36 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Journalism at Fullerton College

13

University of California - Irvine ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California list. University of California - Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 32 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Journalism at University of California - Irvine

14
Chapman crest
Chapman University
Orange, California

Chapman University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Orange, California, and it awarded 31 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Journalism at Chapman

15
Loyola Marymount crest
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, California

Loyola Marymount University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California ranking, coming in at #15. Loyola Marymount is a fairly large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 29 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Journalism at Loyola Marymount

16
SMC crest
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, California

Santa Monica College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California ranking. Santa Monica College is a large public school situated in Santa Monica, California. It awarded 24 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Santa Monica College Journalism Report

17
De Anza College crest
De Anza College
Cupertino, California

De Anza College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California ranking, coming in at #17. Cupertino, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Journalism at De Anza College

18

California State University - Dominguez Hills ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California list. Carson, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full CSUDH Journalism Report

19
Moorpark College crest
Moorpark College
Moorpark, California

Moorpark College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California ranking. Moorpark College is located in Moorpark, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

Full Moorpark College Journalism Report

20
Bakersfield College crest
Bakersfield College
Bakersfield, California

Bakersfield College ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California list. This large school is located in Bakersfield, California, and it awarded 18 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Journalism at Bakersfield College

21
Mt. SAC crest
Mt. San Antonio College
Walnut, California

Mt. San Antonio College ranked #21 on this year’s Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California list. Mt. San Antonio College is a large school located in Walnut, California that handed out 17 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Mt. San Antonio College Journalism Report

21
Saddleback College crest
Saddleback College
Mission Viejo, California

Saddleback College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California ranking. Saddleback College is a public institution located in Mission Viejo, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Journalism at Saddleback College

21
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

With a ranking of #21, Humboldt State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California list. Humboldt State University is a public institution located in Arcata, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Humboldt State University Journalism Report

24
College of the Canyons crest
College of the Canyons
Santa Clarita, California

College of the Canyons landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California ranking. College of the Canyons is located in Santa Clarita, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

Full College of the Canyons Journalism Report

24
Biola crest
Biola University
La Mirada, California

With a ranking of #24, Biola University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Journalism Major in California list. Located in La Mirada, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 16 diplomas to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Journalism at Biola

Notes and References

References

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