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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California

174 Ranked Colleges
13,181 Degrees Awarded
$32,100 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 66,787 communication and media studies students received their degree, making the major the 10th most popular in the country. 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 California, there were 13,181 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,861 and $20,384 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California” ranking looked at 174 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in communication and media studies. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in communication and media studies.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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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 “Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California”.

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.

Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Communication & Media Studies in California

1

Out of the 174 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, John Paul the Great Catholic University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Escondido, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 55 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full John Paul the Great Catholic University Communication & Media Studies Report

2
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Westmont College
Santa Barbara, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Westmont College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California list. Westmont College is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

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 Westmont

3

Out of the 174 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fullerton landed the #3 spot on the list. California State University - Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 777 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Cal State Fullerton Communication & Media Studies Report

4
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San Diego Christian College
Santee, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Diego Christian College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California. San Diego Christian is a private not-for-profit institution located in Santee, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at San Diego Christian

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Channel Islands. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California. This medium-sized school is located in Camarillo, California, and it awarded 146 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Channel Islands Communication & Media Studies Report

6

University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school handed out 469 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

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 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

7
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Life Pacific College
San Dimas, California

Life Pacific College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California ranking, coming in at #7. This small school is located in San Dimas, California, and it awarded 8 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at LIFE Bible College

8

California State University - Sacramento ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California list. Sac State is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 492 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Sac State

9
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Pitzer College
Claremont, California

Pitzer College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California ranking. Located in Claremont, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 13 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 Communication & Media Studies at Pitzer College

10

California State University - San Marcos did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California ranking, coming in at #10. CSUSM is a fairly large school located in San Marcos, California that handed out 231 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full CSUSM Communication & Media Studies Report

11
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Holy Names University
Oakland, California

Holy Names University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California ranking. Located in Oakland, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 14 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full HNU Communication & Media Studies Report

12
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Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, California

With a ranking of #12, Santa Clara University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California list. This medium-sized school is located in Santa Clara, California, and it awarded 142 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full SCU Communication & Media Studies Report

13
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College of San Mateo
San Mateo, California

College of San Mateo landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California ranking. College of San Mateo is located in San Mateo, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 56 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at CSM

14
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Scripps College
Claremont, California

Scripps College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California ranking. Scripps is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Claremont, California. It awarded 16 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 Scripps Communication & Media Studies Report

15

Vanguard University of Southern California landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California ranking. Vanguard University of Southern California is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Costa Mesa, California. It awarded 29 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Vanguard University of Southern California

16
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Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, California

Loyola Marymount University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California ranking, coming in at #16. Loyola Marymount is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 138 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Loyola Marymount University

17
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California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, California

California Lutheran University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California ranking, coming in at #17. CLU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Thousand Oaks, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 62 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at California Lutheran University

18
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Pomona College
Claremont, California

Pomona College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California ranking. Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Claremont, California. It awarded 18 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Pomona

19
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San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California ranking. 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.

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
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Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, California

Sonoma State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California ranking, coming in at #20. SSU is a public institution located in Rohnert Park, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 87 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Sonoma State University

21
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Simpson University
Redding, California

Simpson University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California ranking. Simpson University is located in Redding, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Simpson U

22
Foothill College crest
Foothill College
Los Altos Hills, California

Foothill College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California ranking, coming in at #22. Foothill College is a fairly large school located in Los Altos Hills, California that handed out 135 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Foothill College Communication & Media Studies Report

23

With a ranking of #23, California State University - Bakersfield did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California list. California State University - Bakersfield is a public institution located in Bakersfield, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 109 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full CSUB Communication & Media Studies Report

24
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Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, California

Notre Dame de Namur University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California ranking. Notre Dame de Namur University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Belmont, California. It awarded 16 ’s communications degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 Notre Dame de Namur University

25
Porterville College crest
Porterville College
Porterville, California

Porterville College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California ranking. Porterville College is located in Porterville, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 45 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Porterville College

Rest of the Best 27 in Schools Highly Focused on Communications Major in California

Not only did these schools make the top 27 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
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College of the Siskiyous
Weed, California
27
Long Beach City College crest
Long Beach City College
Long Beach, California

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