Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Communication & Media Studies

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

21 Ranked Colleges
549 Degrees Awarded
$23,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Communications Schools for a Master's in California 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 was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 68,079 communication and media studies students received their degree, making the major the 9th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, communication and media studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,728 and had an average of $24,931 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 13,425 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,239 and $21,690 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 549 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 21 colleges that offer a degree in communication and media studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great communication and media studies programs and cost less that 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.

More Ways to Rank Communication & Media Studies Schools

The communications school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 21 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $0-$30k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 28 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford also took the #2 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Stanford University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Los Angeles. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Cal State LA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cal State LA has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Cal State LA

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fullerton landed the #3 spot on the list. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 38 students in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also took the #10 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892.

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

#18 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fresno. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Fresno State, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Fresno State Communication & Media Studies Report

#5

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Diego State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. SDSU is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 25 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, SDSU has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#6

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#3 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 2 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCSB has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of California - Santa Barbara

With a ranking of #7, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school handed out 23 diplomas to qualified masters’s communications students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, CSUN has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at CSUN

#4 in overall quality

University of California - Davis ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of California - Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC Davis has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700.

Full University of California - Davis Communication & Media Studies Report

#6 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

UCSD also took the #6 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UCSD

California State University - Long Beach ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. CSULB is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 4 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at CSULB

#11

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. USC is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 289 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, USC has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#12

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California
#21 in overall quality

California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. CSUSB is a fairly large school located in San Bernardino, California that handed out 8 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Bernardino are $17,936, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#17 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. California State University - Sacramento is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 5 masters’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Sac State

#14

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school handed out 17 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2019-2020.

San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at San Jose State

#19 in overall quality

California State University - East Bay ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Hayward, California, this fairly large public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s communications students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State East Bay, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - East Bay are $17,828, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Cal State East Bay

#16

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. SFSU is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at SFSU

With a ranking of #17, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - Chico is located in Chico, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s communications degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chico State, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chico State are $18,802, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#18

National University

La Jolla, California

National University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. National University is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 26 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

National University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at National University are $15,480, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at National University

#19

California Baptist University

Riverside, California

With a ranking of #19, California Baptist University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Riverside, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 13 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2019-2020.

Cal Baptist not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Baptist University are $14,140, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cal Baptist Communication & Media Studies Report

#20

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, University of San Francisco did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in San Francisco, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 24 degrees to qualified masters’s communications students in 2019-2020.

USFCA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USFCA are $26,710.

Full University of San Francisco Communication & Media Studies Report

#21

Pepperdine University

Malibu, California
#7 in overall quality

Pepperdine University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Malibu, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s communications degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree communications students whose families make $0-$30k list, Pepperdine has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Pepperdine University are $36,320, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Pepperdine University Communication & Media Studies Report

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

Featured Communications / Public Relations Schools

Find Schools Near You