2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Communication & Media Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 9th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 68,079 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 the Far Western US region, there were 15,759 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,204 and $21,798 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 9,692 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,083 and $22,209 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking analyzed 82 colleges that offered a degree 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 for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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 for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in the Far Western US Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Phoenix - California. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. UOPX - California is a small private for-profit school situated in Costa Mesa, California. It awarded 1 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $12,664 for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students per year to attend University of Phoenix - California.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at UOPX - California
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 Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 365 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $9,622 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Out of the 82 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Northridge landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school handed out 369 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Northridge is $8,414 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students.
The low student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at California State University - Northridge
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - San Marcos. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region. CSUSM is a fairly large school located in San Marcos, California that handed out 278 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for CSUSM is $13,399 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #6. SFSU is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 406 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.
SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for SFSU is $15,113 for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students.
San Jose State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. San Jose State is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 273 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
San Jose State also took the #13 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $14,928 for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students per year to attend San Jose State.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at San Jose State
California State University - Fullerton came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. California State University - Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 730 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State Fullerton, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Fullerton is $7,991 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, 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 89%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at California State University - Fullerton
California State University - Fresno came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 102 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Fresno State is $5,464 for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of Nevada - Las Vegas came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. This large school is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it awarded 237 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for UNLV is $11,424 for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Nevada - Las Vegas
California State University - Sacramento landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. California State University - Sacramento is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 531 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students list, Sac State has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Sacramento is $9,979 for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Sacramento Communication & Media Studies Report
California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #12. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 122 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $15,017 for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students per year to attend Chico State.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at California State University - Chico
California State University - East Bay landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Hayward, California, and it awarded 160 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Cal State East Bay is $11,116 for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students.
Full California State University - East Bay Communication & Media Studies Report
With a ranking of #14, California State University - Channel Islands did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. CSUCI is a medium-sized school located in Camarillo, California that handed out 122 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $13,558 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students per year to attend California State University - Channel Islands.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at California State University - Channel Islands
Sonoma State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Sonoma State University is a public institution located in Rohnert Park, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 106 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $17,478 for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students per year to attend Sonoma State University.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Sonoma State University Communication & Media Studies Report
University of Nevada - Reno did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #16. UNR is located in Reno, Nevada and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 64 bachelors’s communications degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $15,081 for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students per year to attend UNR.
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #17. This large school is located in Pomona, California, and it awarded 152 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Cal Poly Pomona is $12,734 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Communication & Media Studies Report
California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #18. CSUB is a fairly large school located in Bakersfield, California that handed out 98 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Bakersfield is $5,318 for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at California State University - Bakersfield
California State University - San Bernardino came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Bernardino, California, and it awarded 206 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $7,342 for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students per year to attend California State University - San Bernardino.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at California State University - San Bernardino
California State University - Stanislaus ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Stan State is a fairly large public school situated in Turlock, California. It awarded 76 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Stan State is $6,019 for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students.
The low 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at California State University - Stanislaus
San Diego State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #21. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 190 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend San Diego State University is $14,788 for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at San Diego State University
With a ranking of #22, Western Washington University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Western Washington University is a fairly large public school situated in Bellingham, Washington. It awarded 89 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Western Washington University is $16,529 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Communications students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Western Washington University Communication & Media Studies Report
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, this large public school awarded 64 degrees to qualified bachelors’s communications students in 2019-2020.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $21,595 for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
California State University - Los Angeles ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s communications degrees to 210 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Los Angeles is $2,768 for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students.
The low student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Cal State LA
California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #25. CSUDH is a fairly large school located in Carson, California that handed out 64 bachelors’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for CSUDH is $4,215 for far western us region bachelor’s degree communications students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Dominguez Hills Communication & Media Studies Report
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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
- Credit for the banner image above goes to UNU-WIDER from Helsinki, Finland.
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