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2023 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region

73 Ranked Colleges
15,404 Degrees Awarded
$7,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

With 66,787 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, communication and media studies is the 10th most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, communication and media studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,115 and had an average of $25,414 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Far Western US region, there were 15,404 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,160 and $21,474 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 73 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in communication and media studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality communication and media studies 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 media studies 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.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for far western us region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region

1
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 55 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Stanford also took the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Stanford University is $1,233 for Far Western US Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Stanford University Communication & Media Studies Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of California - Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 268 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

UC Berkeley also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Berkeley is $8,450 for far western us region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 411 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

UW Seattle not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW Seattle is $5,194 for Far Western US Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at UW Seattle

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Davis. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UC Davis is located in Davis, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 300 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UC Davis is $10,006 for far western us region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UC Davis

5
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Southern California. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 567 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Southern California is $17,287 for far western us region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Southern California

6

University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UCSB is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 469 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UCSB also took the #3 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Santa Barbara is $10,568 for Far Western US Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full UCSB Communication & Media Studies Report

7

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Cal State Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 777 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Cal State Fullerton also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Fullerton is $4,590 for Far Western US Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 2.5% 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 & Media Studies at California State University - Fullerton

8

University of California - San Diego ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 271 students in 2020-2021.

UCSD also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - San Diego is $9,823 for Far Western US Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

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

9

California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Cal State LA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 207 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Cal State LA is $1,887 for Far Western US Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

10

California State University - Long Beach landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 387 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CSULB is $6,663 for Far Western US Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full CSULB Communication & Media Studies Report

11

California State University - Sacramento landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California State University - Sacramento is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 492 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Sacramento is $8,163 for far western us region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Sac State

12

California State University - Fresno ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Fresno State is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 102 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Fresno is $3,859 for Far Western US Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

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

13

California State University - Northridge came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school handed out 367 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Northridge is $6,266 for Far Western US Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

14
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

San Diego State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SDSU is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 242 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $7,169 for far western us region communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend San Diego State University.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full SDSU Communication & Media Studies Report

15
Wazzu crest
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington

Washington State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in Pullman, Washington, and it awarded 46 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Wazzu also made our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend Wazzu is $7,689 for Far Western US Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Washington State University

16
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

San Jose State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Jose State University is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 332 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Jose State, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State is $12,158 for Far Western US Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 San Jose State Communication & Media Studies Report

17

California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Located in San Bernardino, California, this fairly large public school handed out 166 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $5,985 for Far Western US Region Communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend CSUSB.

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

Full CSUSB Communication & Media Studies Report

18

With a ranking of #18, University of Nevada - Las Vegas did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it awarded 259 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

UNLV also took the #22 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $8,991 for far western us region communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Nevada - Las Vegas.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at University of Nevada - Las Vegas

19
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. San Francisco State University is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 343 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend San Francisco State University is $10,705 for far western us region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Full SFSU Communication & Media Studies Report

20

With a ranking of #20, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. CSUSM is located in San Marcos, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 231 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

CSUSM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend CSUSM is $9,397 for far western us region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at CSUSM

21

With a ranking of #21, California State University - Stanislaus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Stan State is located in Turlock, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 75 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $4,122 for far western us region communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California State University - Stanislaus.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Stan State

22
UO crest
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon

University of Oregon ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Oregon is a public institution located in Eugene, Oregon. The school has a large population, and it awarded 38 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our far western us region communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, UO has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Oregon is $13,666 for far western us region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UO

23
WWU crest
Western Washington University
Bellingham, Washington

Western Washington University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Bellingham, Washington, and it awarded 105 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Western Washington University is $9,979 for far western us region communications students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Western Washington University

24

With a ranking of #24, California State University - Bakersfield did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. CSUB is a fairly large school located in Bakersfield, California that handed out 109 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $5,238 for far western us region communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California State University - Bakersfield.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at CSUB

25
San Diego Mesa College crest
San Diego Mesa College
San Diego, California

San Diego Mesa College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Communications Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in San Diego, California, this fairly large public school handed out 68 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $4,672 for far western us region communications students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend San Diego Mesa College.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at San Diego Mesa College

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