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2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

23 Ranked Colleges
1,071 Degrees Awarded
$17,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor's in California For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Journalism is the 62nd most popular major in the country with 14,528 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, journalism graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $31,042 and had an average of $24,628 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 1,662 journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,881 and $22,408 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,071 journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 23 colleges that offered a degree in journalism. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great journalism 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 journalism program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Journalism Schools

The journalism 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 Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons 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 Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 23 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Journalism (Income $30-$48k) in California

#13 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #1 spot on the list. California State University - Fresno is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 113 bachelors’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

Fresno State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $3,731 for california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Fresno.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Journalism at California State University - Fresno

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 Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. California State University - Long Beach is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 101 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB also made our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Long Beach is $7,595 for California Bachelor’s Degree Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low 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 Journalism at CSULB

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Dominguez Hills. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Carson, California, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, CSUDH has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for CSUDH is $3,115 for california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Journalism at CSUDH

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school handed out 36 degrees to qualified bachelors’s journalism students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, UC Irvine has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Irvine is $10,373 for california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 full report on Journalism at University of California - Irvine

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Northridge is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 134 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUN also took the #15 spot in our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CSUN is $6,883 for California Bachelor’s Degree Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Journalism at California State University - Northridge

#6

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 133 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU also made our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $10,594 for California Bachelor’s Degree Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend San Diego State University.

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

Read more about Journalism at SDSU

With a ranking of #7, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and it awarded 74 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is $14,680 for california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, 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 94%.

Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Journalism Report

#8

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Southern California is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 78 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern California is $16,252 for california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Journalism at USC

#9

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #9, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Francisco State University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 54 bachelors’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

SFSU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $12,517 for california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SFSU.

Read full report on Journalism at San Francisco State University

California State University - Sacramento landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Sacramento is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 39 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State also made our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $7,823 for California Bachelor’s Degree Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Journalism at California State University - Sacramento

California State University - Chico ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school handed out 68 degrees to qualified bachelors’s journalism students in 2019-2020.

Chico State also made our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $11,576 for california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Chico.

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

Full Chico State Journalism Report

#12

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Jose State is a large public school situated in San Jose, California. It awarded 27 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Jose State University is $11,752 for california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Journalism at San Jose State University

#13

Humboldt State University

Arcata, California

Humboldt State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. Humboldt State University is a medium-sized school located in Arcata, California that handed out 37 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Humboldt State University also took the #22 spot in our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Humboldt State University is $12,775 for california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Journalism at Humboldt State University

#14

California Baptist University

Riverside, California
#16 in overall quality

California Baptist University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Riverside, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s journalism degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

Cal Baptist not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California Baptist University is $21,716 for California Bachelor’s Degree Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Read more about Journalism at Cal Baptist

#15

Pacific Union College

Angwin, California
#21 in overall quality

Pacific Union College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. PUC is located in Angwin, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

PUC also made our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend PUC is $16,984 for California Bachelor’s Degree Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Journalism at PUC

#16

Pepperdine University

Malibu, California

Pepperdine University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Malibu, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Pepperdine also made our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Pepperdine is $29,593 for california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, 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 85%.

Full Pepperdine Journalism Report

The University of Arizona Global Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. The University of Arizona Global Campus is a large private for-profit school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 43 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

UAGC also took the #19 spot in our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UAGC is $20,998 for California Bachelor’s Degree Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full The University of Arizona Global Campus Journalism Report

#18

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, California

Point Loma Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. PLNU is a small school located in San Diego, California that handed out 13 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

PLNU also made our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Point Loma Nazarene University is $24,654 for california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Journalism at PLNU

#19

Biola University

La Mirada, California

Biola University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Biola is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Mirada, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, Biola has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Biola University is $25,855 for california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Biola University Journalism Report

#20

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, Loyola Marymount University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Loyola Marymount is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 7 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Loyola Marymount also made our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Loyola Marymount is $35,166 for California Bachelor’s Degree Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low 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%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Loyola Marymount Journalism Report

#21

Chapman University

Orange, California

Chapman University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Orange, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s journalism degrees to 33 students in 2019-2020.

Chapman also made our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Chapman is $31,826 for California Bachelor’s Degree Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Journalism at Chapman University

#22

University of La Verne

La Verne, California
#18 in overall quality

University of La Verne landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in La Verne, California, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

ULV not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of La Verne is $23,427 for california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Journalism at ULV

#23

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California
#23 in overall quality

Academy of Art University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Journalism Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 4 bachelors’s journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree journalism students whose families make $30-$48k list, Academy of Art University has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Journalism Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Academy of Art University is $34,125 for California Bachelor’s Degree Journalism students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Academy of Art University Journalism Report

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 Jfurrer.

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