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2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California

56 Ranked Colleges
10,632 Degrees Awarded
$11,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor's in California

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 121,387 people earned their degree in communication and journalism, making the major the 11th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, communication and journalism graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,549 and had an average of $24,893 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 18,646 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,210 and $21,875 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 10,632 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California” ranking looked at 56 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in communication and journalism. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality communication and journalism programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the communication and journalism program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California” list to help you make the college decision.

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.

Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Journalism in California

#22 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California. CSULB is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 512 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $9,622 for california bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 students.

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

#2

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school handed out 517 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSB, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $15,884 for california bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students per year to attend University of California - Santa Barbara.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at University of California - Santa Barbara

#12 in overall quality

Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, this large public school handed out 138 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $21,595 for California Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students.

The low student loan default rate of 1.1% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Full Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Communication & Journalism Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. California State University - Northridge is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 899 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for CSUN is $8,414 for California Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at California State University - Northridge

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - San Marcos. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. San Marcos, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 278 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,399 for California Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students per year to attend California State University - San Marcos.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - San Marcos Communication & Journalism Report

#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. University of California - Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 284 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $15,329 for california bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students per year to attend UC Berkeley.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at University of California - Berkeley

#7

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#14 in overall quality

San Jose State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. San Jose State is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 451 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend San Jose State University is $14,928 for california bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at San Jose State University

California State University - Fresno landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. Fresno State is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 215 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $5,464 for California Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students per year to attend Fresno State.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at California State University - Fresno

#9

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#21 in overall quality

San Francisco State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. San Francisco State University is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 650 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $15,113 for California Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students per year to attend San Francisco State University.

Full San Francisco State University Communication & Journalism Report

#20 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school handed out 919 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also took the #20 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Fullerton is $7,991 for california bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.

Full California State University - Fullerton Communication & Journalism Report

#6 in overall quality

University of California - Davis came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. University of California - Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 323 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis also took the #6 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UC Davis is $14,669 for california bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at UC Davis

#23 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 570 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Sac State, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Sac State is $9,979 for california bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 Communication & Journalism at California State University - Sacramento

With a ranking of #13, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school awarded 190 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Chico is $15,017 for California Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 Chico State Communication & Journalism Report

#9 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 239 students in 2019-2020.

UCSD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend UCSD is $14,232 for california bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at UCSD

California State University - Channel Islands came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. CSUCI is a public institution located in Camarillo, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 122 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,558 for california bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students per year to attend CSUCI.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full CSUCI Communication & Journalism Report

California State University - East Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #16. California State University - East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 160 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Cal State East Bay is $11,116 for California Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Cal State East Bay

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. Pomona, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 152 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is $12,734 for California Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Cal Poly Pomona

#18

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, California

Sonoma State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. SSU is located in Rohnert Park, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 106 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $17,478 for California Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students per year to attend Sonoma State University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Sonoma State University

California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #19. CSUB is a fairly large public school situated in Bakersfield, California. It awarded 98 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for CSUB is $5,318 for california bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

Full CSUB Communication & Journalism Report

#20

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

California State University - San Bernardino came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. California State University - San Bernardino is a public institution located in San Bernardino, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 206 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for CSUSB is $7,342 for California Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

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

California State University - Stanislaus landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. Stan State is a fairly large public school situated in Turlock, California. It awarded 76 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Stan State is $6,019 for California Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at California State University - Stanislaus

#22

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#24 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees to 428 students in 2019-2020.

SDSU also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #24. The yearly cost to attend San Diego State University is $14,788 for California Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 Communication & Journalism at SDSU

#23

University of Phoenix - California

Costa Mesa, California

With a ranking of #23, University of Phoenix - California did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. University of Phoenix - California is a private for-profit institution located in Costa Mesa, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,664 for California Bachelor’s Degree Communication & Journalism students per year to attend University of Phoenix - California.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at UOPX - California

California State University - Monterey Bay ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Located in Seaside, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 63 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,212 for california bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students per year to attend California State University - Monterey Bay.

The low student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 Communication & Journalism at CSUMB

California State University - Los Angeles ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Cal State LA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 364 bachelors’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Los Angeles is $2,768 for california bachelor’s degree communication & journalism students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at California State University - Los Angeles

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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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