1
by our College Data Analytics Team
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 “Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Journalism is the 69th most popular major in the country with 13,552 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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 the Far Western US region, there were 2,197 journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,202 and $21,567 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking looked at 32 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in journalism. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality journalism programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the journalism program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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 Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” list to help you make the college decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region. CSULB is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 109 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our far western us region journalism students list, CSULB has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CSULB is $10,054 for Far Western US Region Journalism students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. 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%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fresno. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region list. California State University - Fresno is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 85 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Fresno State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $6,230 for Far Western US Region Journalism students per year to attend Fresno State.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Diego State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region list. SDSU is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 170 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for SDSU is $13,845 for far western us region journalism students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Journalism at San Diego State University
Out of the 32 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Nevada - Reno landed the #5 spot on the list. UNR is a public institution located in Reno, Nevada. The school has a large population, and it awarded 136 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNR, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Nevada - Reno is $14,930 for Far Western US Region Journalism students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%.
Read full report on Journalism at University of Nevada - Reno
California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school awarded 49 diplomas to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.
Chico State also took the #16 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Chico State is $16,218 for far western us region journalism students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%.
Western Washington University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region list. WWU is located in Bellingham, Washington and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 59 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WWU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $17,070 for Far Western US Region Journalism students per year to attend WWU.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
San Jose State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #8. San Jose State is a large public school situated in San Jose, California. It awarded 52 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
San Jose State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Jose State is $16,542 for Far Western US Region Journalism students.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
California State University - Northridge came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 161 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
CSUN also took the #23 spot in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $8,523 for Far Western US Region Journalism students per year to attend California State University - Northridge.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Journalism at California State University - Northridge
Washington State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Washington State University is located in Pullman, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 70 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
Wazzu also made our “Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Washington State University is $15,300 for Far Western US Region Journalism students.
The low undergrad 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%.
San Diego Mesa College landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. San Diego Mesa College is a fairly large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 7 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $5,573 for far western us region journalism students per year to attend San Diego Mesa College.
With a ranking of #12, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region list. SFSU is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 61 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $14,459 for far western us region journalism students per year to attend SFSU.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Journalism at San Francisco State University
California State University - Sacramento ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Sac State is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 41 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Sac State also made our “Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #20. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $11,178 for Far Western US Region Journalism students.
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%.
Full California State University - Sacramento Journalism Report
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #14. This large school is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and it awarded 80 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also made our “Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $20,677 for far western us region journalism students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, 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.
Central Washington University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Central Washington University is a public institution located in Ellensburg, Washington. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
CWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $16,514 for Far Western US Region Journalism students per year to attend CWU.
California State University - Dominguez Hills ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region 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.
It costs about $4,026 for far western us region journalism students per year to attend California State University - Dominguez Hills.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Journalism at California State University - Dominguez Hills
University of Oregon came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. UO is located in Eugene, Oregon and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 148 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
UO also made our “Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $18,047 for Far Western US Region Journalism students per year to attend UO.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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%.
University of Alaska Anchorage ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Anchorage, Alaska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $11,782 for far western us region journalism students per year to attend University of Alaska Anchorage.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Journalism at University of Alaska Anchorage
Point Loma Nazarene University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Point Loma Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 7 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our far western us region journalism students list, PLNU has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $34,575 for Far Western US Region Journalism students per year to attend Point Loma Nazarene University.
The undergrad 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 full report on Journalism at Point Loma Nazarene University
California State University - Los Angeles landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 10 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,302 for Far Western US Region Journalism students per year to attend Cal State LA.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Los Angeles Journalism Report
Humboldt State University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Humboldt State University is a medium-sized school located in Arcata, California that handed out 17 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,956 for far western us region journalism students per year to attend Humboldt State University.
With a ranking of #22, University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 39 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.
UW Seattle did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Washington - Seattle Campus is $12,017 for Far Western US Region Journalism students.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read full report on Journalism at University of Washington - Seattle Campus
Academy of Art University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 13 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Academy of Art University is $36,143 for far western us region journalism students.
The low undergrad 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%.
California Baptist University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #24. Cal Baptist is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 12 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal Baptist not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Cal Baptist is $26,719 for Far Western US Region Journalism students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Journalism at California Baptist University
University of Hawaii at Manoa landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. University of Hawaii at Manoa is a public institution located in Honolulu, Hawaii. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UH Manoa is $14,687 for far western us region journalism students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
