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Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in California

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2023 Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in California

176 Colleges
$37,861 Avg Salary
$20,384 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Communication & Media Studies School for You

Out of the majors we analyze each year, communication and media studies was ranked 10th in California. In fact, 12,754 were awarded in the state in 2020-2021.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 176 schools in California to see which programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Communication & Media Studies program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for communications majors pursuing a .

Our analysis found California State University - Fullerton to be the most popular school for communication and media studies students who want to pursue a degree in California. Located in the large suburb of Fullerton, Cal State Fullerton is a public college with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, communications graduates from Cal State Fullerton carry an average student debt load of $14,415. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $167, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Communication & Media Studies at California State University - Fullerton Report

Out of the 176 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern California landed the # 2 spot on the list. USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Los Angeles.

The average amount in student loans that communications majors at USC take out is $17,750. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $516, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Southern California

Out of the 176 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Sacramento landed the # 3 spot on the list. Sac State is a very large public school located in the large city of Sacramento.

Communications majors at Sac State take out an average of $15,000 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $136, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Barbara. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in California list. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Santa Barbara, UCSB is a public college with a fairly large student population.

On average, communications graduates from UCSB take out $13,921 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $322.

Read More…

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means California State University - Long Beach is a great place for communication and media studies students. Located in the large city of Long Beach, CSULB is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that communications majors at CSULB take out is $14,139.

Full Communication & Media Studies at California State University - Long Beach Report

With a ranking of #6, California State University - Northridge did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students. CSUN is a very large public school located in the large city of Northridge.

On average, communications graduates from CSUN take out $14,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

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#7

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in California ranking. SFSU is a very large public school located in the large city of San Francisco.

The average amount in student loans that communications majors at SFSU take out is $13,979. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $184.

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San Jose State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Full Communication & Media Studies at San Jose State University Report

University of California - Davis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the suburb of Davis, UC Davis is a public college with a very large student population.

On average, communications graduates from UC Davis take out $13,000 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $268, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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University of California - San Diego ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in California list. UCSD is a fairly large public school located in the city of La Jolla.

While working on their degree, communications majors at UCSD accumulate an average of around $14,500 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $203.

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

With a ranking of #11, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public college with a very large student population.

Communications majors at UC Berkeley take out an average of $12,207 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $328.

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

#12

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA

San Diego State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in California ranking. SDSU is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego.

Communications majors at SDSU take out an average of $15,000 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $315, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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

California State University - San Marcos ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in California list. CSUSM is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of San Marcos.

Communications majors at CSUSM take out an average of $16,710 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Communication & Media Studies at California State University - San Marcos Report

California State University - Los Angeles ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in California list. Cal State LA is a very large public school located in the large city of Los Angeles.

Full Communication & Media Studies at California State University - Los Angeles Report

With a ranking of #15, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students. Cal Poly Pomona is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Pomona.

After completing their degree, communications graduates from Cal Poly Pomona carry an average student debt load of $15,250.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

With a ranking of #16, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students. Located in the city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of California - Los Angeles

#17

Long Beach City College

Long Beach, CA

Long Beach City College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in California ranking. Long Beach City College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Long Beach.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Long Beach City College Report

#18

Bakersfield College

Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield College ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in California list. Located in the large city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Bakersfield College

#19

Santa Monica College

Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #19 on the list. SMC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Santa Monica.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Santa Monica College

With a ranking of #20, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students. CSUSB is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of San Bernardino.

The average amount in student loans that communications majors at CSUSB take out is $14,208.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at California State University - San Bernardino

#21

Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara City College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular communication and media studies programs. SBCC is a large public school located in the small city of Santa Barbara.

Full Communication & Media Studies at Santa Barbara City College Report

California State University - East Bay did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and media studies students. It came in at #22 on the list. Cal State East Bay is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Hayward.

The average amount in student loans that communications majors at Cal State East Bay take out is $21,000.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at California State University - East Bay

California State University - Channel Islands landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular communication and media studies programs. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Camarillo, CSUCI is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that communications majors at CSUCI take out is $14,000. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $203.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at California State University - Channel Islands

#24

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA

With a ranking of #24, Santa Clara University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and media studies students. SCU is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara.

On average, communications graduates from SCU take out $18,250 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Santa Clara University

#25

Orange Coast College

Costa Mesa, CA

Orange Coast College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular communication and media studies programs. Orange Coast College is a large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Orange Coast College

#26

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Communication & Media Studies students in the state of California that almost earned our Most Popular Communication & Media Studies Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
27 Foothill College Los Altos Hills, CA
28 Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga, CA
29 Pasadena City College Pasadena, CA
30 Mt. San Antonio College Walnut, CA
31 Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CA
32 University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA
33 De Anza College Cupertino, CA
34 California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA
35 California State University - Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA

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

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

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 1,139
Oregon 416
Nevada 367
Hawaii 265
Alaska 11

Communication & Media Studies is one of 5 different types of programs to choose from.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Public Relations & Advertising 21,099
Radio, Television & Digital Communication 17,669
Journalism 13,552
Communication & Journalism (Other) 1,128
Publishing 336

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to UNU-WIDER from Helsinki, Finland.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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