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Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in California

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2023 Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in California

191 Colleges
$35,856 Avg Salary
$20,624 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Communication & Journalism School for You

Communication & Journalism is the #12 most popular major in California with 17,589 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. 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.

The Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 191 schools in California to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Communication & Journalism program at each school on the list.

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

Our 2023 rankings named California State University - Fullerton the most popular school in California for communication and journalism students. Cal State Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton.

After completing their degree, communication and journalism graduates from Cal State Fullerton carry an average student debt load of $15,001. 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 & Journalism at California State University - Fullerton Report

Out of the 191 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Northridge landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the city of Northridge, CSUN is a public college with a fairly large student population.

On average, communication and journalism graduates from CSUN take out $15,319 in student loans while working on their degree.

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

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Southern California. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in California list. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.

On average, communication and journalism graduates from USC take out $18,543 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $505, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Communication & Journalism at University of Southern California Report

#4

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend San Francisco State University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in California list. Located in the large city of San Francisco, SFSU is a public school with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, communication and journalism graduates from SFSU carry an average student debt load of $16,122. 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 & Journalism at San Francisco State University Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in California list. CSULB is a fairly large public school located in the city of Long Beach.

On average, communication and journalism graduates from CSULB take out $14,434 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Communication & Journalism at California State University - Long Beach Report

San Jose State University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular communication and journalism programs. San Jose State is a very large public school located in the large city of San Jose.

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

With a ranking of #7, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and journalism students. Located in the large city of Sacramento, Sac State is a public college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that communication and journalism majors at Sac State take out is $17,035. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $136, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Communication & Journalism at California State University - Sacramento Report

#8

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA

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

After completing their degree, communication and journalism graduates from SDSU carry an average student debt load of $17,609. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $285.

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University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and journalism students. It came in at #9 on the list. UCSB is a fairly large public school located in the midsize suburb of Santa Barbara.

After completing their degree, communication and journalism graduates from UCSB carry an average student debt load of $13,921. 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 full report on Communication & Journalism at University of California - Santa Barbara

California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and journalism students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Cal State LA is a public college with a very large student population.

On average, communication and journalism graduates from Cal State LA take out $17,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

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

With a ranking of #11, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and journalism students. UC Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley.

While working on their degree, communication and journalism majors at UC Berkeley accumulate an average of around $12,207 in student debt. 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 & Journalism at University of California - Berkeley

University of California - Davis ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in California list. UC Davis is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Davis.

While working on their degree, communication and journalism majors at UC Davis accumulate an average of around $13,000 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $268, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of California - Davis

University of California - San Diego came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public school with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that communication and journalism majors at UCSD take out is $14,500. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $203.

Full Communication & Journalism at University of California - San Diego Report

#14

Saddleback College

Mission Viejo, CA

Saddleback College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and journalism students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Read More…

#15

Long Beach City College

Long Beach, CA

Long Beach City College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in California list. Located in the large city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

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California State University - San Marcos ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, CSUSM is a public school with a large student population.

While working on their degree, communication and journalism majors at CSUSM accumulate an average of around $16,710 in student debt.

Read More…

#16

Santa Monica College

Santa Monica, CA

With a ranking of #16, Santa Monica College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for communication and journalism students. Located in the city of Santa Monica, SMC is a public college with a very large student population.

Full Communication & Journalism at Santa Monica College Report

#18

Pasadena City College

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena City College ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in California list. Located in the midsize city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a public college with a very large student population.

Full Communication & Journalism at Pasadena City College Report

California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and journalism students. It came in at #19 on the list. CSUDH is a large public school located in the small city of Carson.

On average, communication and journalism graduates from CSUDH take out $13,780 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular communication and journalism programs. Located in the suburb of Pomona, Cal Poly Pomona is a public college with a fairly large student population.

On average, communication and journalism graduates from Cal Poly Pomona take out $15,250 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Communication & Journalism at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Report

#21

Bakersfield College

Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for communication and journalism students. It came in at #21 on the list. Bakersfield College is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Bakersfield.

Full Communication & Journalism at Bakersfield College Report

#22

Fullerton College

Fullerton, CA

Fullerton College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular communication and journalism programs. Fullerton College is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Fullerton College

#23

Chapman University

Orange, CA

Chapman University ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in California list. Located in the medium-sized city of Orange, Chapman is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.

While working on their degree, communication and journalism majors at Chapman accumulate an average of around $21,808 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $523, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in California list. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a fairly large public school located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo.

While working on their degree, communication and journalism majors at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo accumulate an average of around $16,719 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $310.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

#25

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA

Pepperdine University ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

After completing their degree, communication and journalism graduates from Pepperdine carry an average student debt load of $23,688. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $511, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#28

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, CA

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Communication & Journalism Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
29 Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara, CA
30 Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga, CA
31 De Anza College Cupertino, CA
32 Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CA
33 Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA
34 California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA
35 California State University - East Bay Hayward, CA
36 University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA
36 Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill, CA
36 California State University - Chico Chico, CA

Best Communication & Journalism Colleges in the Far Western US Region

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

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 2,086
Oregon 1,375
Hawaii 292
Nevada 523
Alaska 30

Communication & Journalism Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Communication & Media Studies 66,787
Public Relations & Advertising 21,099
Radio, Television & Digital Communication 17,669
Journalism 13,552
Communication & Journalism (Other) 1,128
Publishing 336

Related Major Annual Graduates
Education 327,871
Social Sciences 205,984
Psychology 195,678
Family, Consumer & Human Sciences 55,820
History 32,731

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 Josh Hallett.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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