Communication & Media Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their communication & media studies programs.
College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best communication & media studies schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall communication & media studies education in California.
University Of California Berkeley tops our 2026 ranking of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 226 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $43,696. Students borrow a median of $11,180 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & media studies details for University Of California Berkeley
San Diego State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & media studies, ranking #2. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. About 76% of students finish within six years. San Diego State University awarded about 16 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $44,130. Students borrow a median of $15,675 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from San Diego State University
A rank of #3 makes University Of San Francisco one of the top schools for communication & media studies. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Francisco. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $39,000 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Pomona College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pomona College awarded about 12 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $75,954 in their early career.
More information about a degree in communication & media studies from Pomona College
A rank of #5 makes Scripps College one of the top schools for communication & media studies. Scripps College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 communication & media studies students who graduated with this degree at Scripps College in the most recent data year.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Scripps College
California State University San Marcos ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best communication & media studies schools. California State University San Marcos is a large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at California State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Communication & Media Studies graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of $36,310 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
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Pitzer College earned the #7 position for communication & media studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Claremont. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Pitzer College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Pitzer College generally make around $40,668. Typical student debt for the program is $18,125.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Pitzer College
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System placed #8 among the best communication & media studies schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo. About 10 communication & media studies degrees were awarded at Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System generally make around $65,898. Typical student debt for the program is $27,471.
See the full communication & media studies program report for Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System
Azusa Pacific University came in at #9 for communication & media studies this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Azusa. Azusa Pacific University graduates 62% of students within six years. Azusa Pacific University awarded about 10 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & media studies program make about $31,366 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,412 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & media studies program at Azusa Pacific University
California State University Los Angeles earned the #10 position for communication & media studies this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. About 53% of students finish within six years. California State University Los Angeles awarded about 10 communication & media studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & media studies degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $48,403. Typical student debt for the program is $14,430.
See the full communication & media studies program report for California State University Los Angeles
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 29 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
