2026 Best Value Speech Communication Schools in the Far Western Region
[Speech Communication](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/speech-communication/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 185 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for speech communication students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Speech Communication Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the speech communication degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Speech Communication Schools
Moorpark College tops our 2026 list of the best value speech communication schools in the Far Western Region. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete the speech communication program here. Early-career speech communication graduates make about $105,599. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cerritos College earned it the #2 place for speech communication. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $11,306. Speech Communication graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of San Mateo came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value speech communication schools. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $11,428 for out-of-state students. Speech Communication graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Skyline College one of the best values for speech communication. Located in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $9,956. Median earnings reach $55,702 ten years out.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Diego Miramar College earned it the #5 place for speech communication. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $8,098. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $41,038. Set against $8,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Canyons came in at #6 for value in speech communication this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Speech Communication graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Early-career speech communication graduates make about $51,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego Mesa College earned the #7 position for value in speech communication this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Speech Communication graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. Speech Communication graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,999 median debt.
Fresno City College earned the #8 position for value in speech communication this year. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Students borrow a median of $7,234 to complete the speech communication program here. Early-career speech communication graduates make about $37,470. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saddleback College landed the #9 spot for speech communication value this year. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,432, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Speech Communication graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from Saddleback College generally make around $15,890. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Irvine Valley College landed the #10 spot for speech communication value this year. Irvine Valley College is a large public school located in the city of Irvine. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $11,860. Speech Communication graduates carry a median of $6,672 in student loans. Median earnings reach $49,156 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Valley College came in at #11 for value in speech communication this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $0, with out-of-state students paying around $9,320. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $14,308. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. That is a strong return on a $14,308 median debt.
Canada College landed the #12 spot for speech communication value this year. Located in the suburb of Redwood City, Canada College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $11,384 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $15,000. Speech Communication graduates of Canada College earn a median of $106,691 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grossmont College came in at #13 for value in speech communication this year. Set in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,628 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,309.
College Of The Sequoias placed #14 among the best values for speech communication. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Speech Communication graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
Mt San Antonio College earned the #15 position for value in speech communication this year. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Speech Communication graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $44,391. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Golden West College landed the #16 spot for speech communication value this year. Located in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,380 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,628. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the speech communication program here. Early-career speech communication graduates make about $82,984. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santiago Canyon College earned the #17 position for value in speech communication this year. Set in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,164, compared with $9,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the speech communication program here. Early-career speech communication graduates make about $34,100. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gavilan College came in at #18 for value in speech communication this year. Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Gilroy. In-state tuition and fees average $1,508, while out-of-state students pay about $12,249. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $5,939. Early-career speech communication graduates make about $28,496. Set against $5,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Diego City College earned the #19 position for value in speech communication this year. San Diego City College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Speech Communication graduates carry a median of $9,514 in student loans. Speech Communication graduates of San Diego City College earn a median of $26,218 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,514 median debt.
Santa Monica College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value speech communication schools. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,708. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,193.
Ventura College landed the #21 spot for speech communication value this year. Set in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $20,250. Speech Communication graduates of Ventura College earn a median of $99,778 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
Reedley College placed #22 among the best values for speech communication. Set in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the speech communication program here. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from Reedley College generally make around $30,520. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Norco College earned the #23 position for value in speech communication this year. Set in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $8,203. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,206. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College earned the #24 position for value in speech communication this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Speech Communication graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
Santa Ana College landed the #25 spot for speech communication value this year. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $11,196. Soon after graduation, speech communication degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Speech Communication Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s speech communication value ranking:
Narrow Speech Communication Schools by State
More Speech Communication Rankings
View All Speech Communication Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 185 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 56 ranked schools only.
- 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.
